GED Essay Example: Daily Physical Education
Health and education policy debates, such as mandatory physical education requirements in schools, commonly appear as essay topics. This detailed GED essay physical education example demonstrates how to compare evidence from multiple sources, develop strong thesis statements, and earn high scores on the RLA writing assessment.
Read the prompt and task instruction below. Your task is to write a well-organized extended response of at least 300 words in 45 minutes, as shown in the Model Response that follows.
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Task Instruction
Task Instruction for GED essay physical education
Analyze the arguments presented in the two speeches. In your response, develop an argument in which you explain how one position is better supported than the other. Incorporate relevant and specific evidence from both sources to support your argument. Remember, the better-argued position is not necessarily the position with which you agree. This task should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
Schools Must Require Daily Physical Education
Task Instruction for GED essay physical education
By Coach Jennifer Walsh, High School Athletics Director
American students are facing an obesity crisis that threatens their health and academic performance. Schools have a responsibility to combat this problem by making physical education a daily requirement for all students, not an optional activity.
The statistics are alarming. The Centers for Disease Control reports that childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1970, with nearly 20% of school-age children now classified as obese. Students who participate in daily PE show significantly lower obesity rates and better overall health markers than their sedentary peers.
Physical activity directly improves academic performance. A 2023 study from the American Journal of School Health found that students with daily PE scored 15% higher on standardized tests compared to students with limited physical education. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, improves concentration, and reduces stress levels that can interfere with learning.
Daily PE also teaches essential life skills. Students learn teamwork, goal-setting, and perseverance through sports and fitness activities. These character traits transfer to academic work and future careers. Additionally, establishing exercise habits in childhood creates healthy adults who are less likely to develop heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
Critics worry about time taken away from core academic subjects, but this concern ignores the connection between physical and mental health. A healthy body supports a healthy mind. Schools that prioritize both physical and academic development produce more well-rounded, successful graduates.
Every student deserves the opportunity to develop healthy habits and experience the joy of physical activity. Daily PE should be non-negotiable in all schools.
Academic Achievement Must Remain the Primary Educational Priority
By Dr. Lisa Chen, Curriculum Specialist
Although physical fitness is important, schools face limited time and resources that must be allocated wisely. Requiring daily physical education would compromise academic instruction time that students desperately need to meet educational standards and college readiness goals.
American students already lag behind international competitors in core subjects. The Programme for International Student Assessment shows that U.S. students rank 38th in math and 24th in science globally. Adding more PE time would reduce instruction in these critical areas where students need the most improvement.
Many schools lack adequate facilities and qualified PE teachers to implement daily programs effectively. Gymnasiums are often shared between multiple schools, and certified physical education teachers are in short supply. Rather than mandate inadequate programs, schools should focus resources on proven academic interventions.
Students can maintain physical fitness outside of school hours through community sports, family activities, and personal exercise routines. Not all students enjoy traditional PE activities, and forcing participation can create negative associations with physical activity that last into adulthood.
Furthermore, technology and career preparation should take priority in modern education. Students need computer skills, critical thinking abilities, and academic knowledge to compete in today’s economy. Time spent on PE could be better used for STEM courses, career training, or college preparatory classes.
Schools should encourage healthy lifestyles through optional programs and wellness education, but academic achievement must remain the primary focus. Students will benefit more from strong educational foundations than from mandatory exercise time that reduces learning opportunities.
Model Response on GED Essay Physical Education Topic
Schools today must make tough choices about how to use limited class time, and the debate over daily physical education shows this challenge clearly. Both Coach Walsh and Dr. Chen care about student success, but Coach Walsh makes the stronger argument because her evidence shows that daily PE actually helps rather than hurts academic performance.
Dr. Chen raises valid concerns about academic achievement and international competition. Her point that U.S. students rank low in math and science compared to other countries is important, and schools do need to focus on improving these areas. She’s also right that many schools don’t have enough gym space or qualified PE teachers to run good programs.
However, Coach Walsh provides convincing evidence that physical education supports academic success instead of taking away from it. Her research showing that students with daily PE scored 15% higher on standardized tests proves that exercise helps learning rather than hurting it. This directly challenges Chen’s assumption that PE time reduces academic performance.
Coach Walsh also addresses a serious health crisis that affects students’ ability to learn. With childhood obesity rates tripling since 1970, students face health problems that can interfere with their education. When students are unhealthy, they struggle to concentrate and perform well in all subjects, including the math and science that Chen wants to prioritize.
The most important difference between these arguments is that Walsh shows how PE and academics work together, while Chen treats them as competing priorities. Walsh’s evidence proves that physical activity improves brain function, concentration, and stress management. These are all things that help students succeed in math, science, and other subjects.
Even though Chen is correct that schools need strong academic programs, Walsh demonstrates that daily PE strengthens rather than weakens academic achievement. Her approach addresses both health and educational goals at the same time.
(304 words)
