Europes Most Unhealthy Nation (Should Sport be Compulsory?)

Member Name: scottish20

Product:	Should Sport be Compulsory?
Date:	18/09/01 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Learn to love sport, and to be healthy

Disadvantages: lack of enthusiasm from teachers, Distracted by computer games, poor facilities

Recent reports have named Scotland as the European Nation that smokes the most, has the highest levels of Heart Disease and is the fattest...not exactly the best advert now is it?

I am lucky - I grew up with a love of sport (my Dad played rugby and my Mum was (still is) a long distance runner). But I also grew up in the years before PC's, Playstations, N64 and Dreamcasts! I also had a younger sister who I could play with and we had a pretty big garden which we used to cycle round. We went to swimming lessons, then gymnastics, then badminton, finally settling with athletics and I later picked up hockey and football at University. Now I am 20, I run 25 miles a week and so don't have to really worry about what I eat (except to keep the obvious balanced diet).

I suppose that is one of the advantages of being an 80's baby! I look at young children these days (how old do I sound?) and I am amazed. I work in children's Playschemes and it is easy to see why children are becoming fat, inactive and unhealthy.

Take one particluar family of 3 children. Their mother is very large so the children are probably going to struggle with weight problems a little anyway. The middle son is quite skinny - he loves football and as far as I can gather is out most nights after school with his mates for a kick around. Elder brother is a wizz on the N64 and is rather chunky while 5 year old sister is larger than many of the 8 year olds I know.

It is a shame because these children really don't have much of a chance...their lifestyles are unhealthy from a very early age. This is where school comes in. Physical exercise is very important, not only for health reasons but it makes children feel good and they have fun. These taught classes also teach the children games that they can then take into the playground and extend and expand on the effects of PE.

In High School PE continues but in many schools, PE classes stop
at 16 - WHY?? Surely this is where many kids need that tiny push in the right direction? PE in High Schools should include information about healthy lifestyles such as balanced diets and info on smoking, alcohol and drugs. These classes have the potential to have a big impact on children.

On an entirely different note, am I not mistaking in saying that many Scots (especially) are disheartened at our lack of sporting success - you only need to take Scotlands World Cup Campaign so far. Again, schools play an important role in encouraging our sporting stars of the future. A range of activities should be made available so that school children have an opportunity to test themselves and find a sport or activity that they are good at.

OK, so sport is compulsory but to be honest, the teachers are less than committed. I attended a pretty average State school and there were virtually no extracurricular sporting activities. We had to practically beg for Hockey to be introduced when I was in 5th year (lower 6th). I am wanting to become a Biology teacher and an important aspect for me is what I have to offer a school in terms of sport...without the enthusiam of the teachers, how are young people today to keep an interest in sport?

Facilities for sport in schools appears to be pretty shocking too, so really it's no wonder kids loose interest...maybe the lottery funds need to get involved?

I have drifted slightly from my original point but there are so many different aspects of sport in schools. Sport and exercise is very important in any childs life and as long as it is carried out in a proper and professional way, it can be very beneficial to young people and have lasting results in the poplulation.

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