Mandatory swim instruction for adolescents and adults has been of interest to me for quite some time. Many high schools and a few colleges require students to pass a swim test or take a swimming course in order to graduate. In the past, more colleges and universities has this requirement than at present, but most have dropped it, but a few still do, including several Ivy League schools.
It is always said that such a requirement is good because it helps to insure that more people become safe in the water. I wonder about the effectiveness of this. Do such swim tests/courses really work--do they really do the job they're supposed to do? Do they really get people to swim with ease or be safe in deep water? And what about fearful students, those with no aquatic experience and who are often studious or unathetic? Please go to the following websites and post your comments:
MIT Department of Athletics, Physical Education
Time to Swim or Graduate--Boston Globe
Welcome MIT Department of Athletics, Physical Education (watch video)
YouTube video: Adult Learn to Swim
Parents
Former Member
We don't require adult smokers to quit - which has far greater negative impact on society than non-swimming adults.
So I suggest requiring adults to learn how to swim is not reasonable.
It is far more important and valuable to expose children to swimming. We here know how valuable it is to be comfortable in the water later in life.
Hard data was gathered recently by USA Swimming that showed a huge disparity in swimming experience between whites and non-whites. THAT is a problem and deserves attention.
We don't require adult smokers to quit - which has far greater negative impact on society than non-swimming adults.
So I suggest requiring adults to learn how to swim is not reasonable.
It is far more important and valuable to expose children to swimming. We here know how valuable it is to be comfortable in the water later in life.
Hard data was gathered recently by USA Swimming that showed a huge disparity in swimming experience between whites and non-whites. THAT is a problem and deserves attention.
