Should swimming instruction be mandatory as part of physical education/gym classes in public schools?
The idea for this question arose from a comment made by someone else last week in another thread that had gone off topic, and was reinforced for me personally this past weekend when the 9-year old nephew (non-swimmer) of a close friend of mine nearly drowned (but for his observant and fast acting uncle) and again this morning with tragic news reported in a local newspaper of the drowning of a child in a neighbor’s back yard pool.
I believe there was a time when swimming instruction was fairly common in PE in public schools. Although there was no swimming instruction as part of gym classes when I was in school, we had a free swim (recreation, but no instruction) as part of gym class in Jr. High (a generation ago). Moreover, the university I attended required all students regardless of major to pass a very basic swimming test in order to get their bachelor's degree. That requirement went the way of the dinosaurs about the time I graduated. (I read somewhere that Harvard imposed the requirement (now abandoned, I believe) after one of its students (Widener, for whom the library is named) drowned when the Titanic sank). I am not aware of any colleges that require this today, and I haven’t heard of any local school districts (at least in the metropolitan Boston area) that require students to learn to swim. (I think a few of the more affluent Massachusetts towns that have pools may offer swimming, but as an elective only).
So, what do you think? Does your school district offer or require swimming instruction today? Should it be required? (The utopian/libertarian side of me recoils at the thought of mandating anything, but the pragmatic/utilitarian side often prevails). I imagine the cost of constructing pools would be the major issue, but with all the money that gets wasted on everything else it would not be out of the realm of possibilities if the will were there.
Thinking back on of all time wasted on the marginally useful activities they had us do in PE/gym class in school, the idea seems even more attractive. Teaching swimming would be an opportunity to teach something really, really useful--not only something that could be life-saving, but that could also provide a life time of healthy activity. (I'm reminded of Paul Simon's lyrics (dating myself): "When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, it's a wonder I can even think at all.").
Parents
Former Member
I think the biggest issue here is that the elementary schools don't typically have pools, at least where I live.
If you're teaching them to swim in High School, I feel like the greatest threat of downing has already occurred. Most of the people you would have saved from drowning would already be dead. The stats show ages 1-5 is at the greatest risk. Why wait until middle or high school? The value of the program would substantially decrease if you waited an extra 10+ years.
The next group of at risk swimmers is young adults (14-24?). It'd be interesting to see how many of these people considered themselves competent swimmers. I think this increase in drowning is likely due to stupidity- not knowing one's limits, not swimming where it's safe, alcohol induced swimming, and swimming a lone or with less attention than a youngster.
Another important factor we haven't really talked about is who is teaching these children. I'd imagine most elementary school gym classes have 20, 30, maybe even 40+ kids to 1 or 2 teachers. That's a lot of children to oversee especially when they have no ability in the water. Then you'll also need lifeguards or TA's trained as lifeguards to oversee the pool.
If the school has the resources to reasonably teach early childhood swimming, I am all for it. I don't think it's a practical solution in most places. As with learning most anything outside (or maybe even inside) of school at a young age, it really comes down to the parents responsibility to provide the resources. If you're waiting until middle or high school to teach swimming, I think it's way too late. I think the purpose here is not to make them professional athletes, but rather to provide safety skills and who knows, maybe get some kids interested in the sport.
I think a better idea might be preschools contracting swim programs with local pools. It seems like it would be a better age and more realistic.
I think the biggest issue here is that the elementary schools don't typically have pools, at least where I live.
If you're teaching them to swim in High School, I feel like the greatest threat of downing has already occurred. Most of the people you would have saved from drowning would already be dead. The stats show ages 1-5 is at the greatest risk. Why wait until middle or high school? The value of the program would substantially decrease if you waited an extra 10+ years.
The next group of at risk swimmers is young adults (14-24?). It'd be interesting to see how many of these people considered themselves competent swimmers. I think this increase in drowning is likely due to stupidity- not knowing one's limits, not swimming where it's safe, alcohol induced swimming, and swimming a lone or with less attention than a youngster.
Another important factor we haven't really talked about is who is teaching these children. I'd imagine most elementary school gym classes have 20, 30, maybe even 40+ kids to 1 or 2 teachers. That's a lot of children to oversee especially when they have no ability in the water. Then you'll also need lifeguards or TA's trained as lifeguards to oversee the pool.
If the school has the resources to reasonably teach early childhood swimming, I am all for it. I don't think it's a practical solution in most places. As with learning most anything outside (or maybe even inside) of school at a young age, it really comes down to the parents responsibility to provide the resources. If you're waiting until middle or high school to teach swimming, I think it's way too late. I think the purpose here is not to make them professional athletes, but rather to provide safety skills and who knows, maybe get some kids interested in the sport.
I think a better idea might be preschools contracting swim programs with local pools. It seems like it would be a better age and more realistic.
