A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:
Rep. Mike Tryon Files Bill to Ease Process of Obtaining PE Waivers to Allow for Advanced Placement Coursework
SPRINGFIELD….. State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) hopes to tackle high college tuition costs by making it easier for Illinois students to earn college credit for coursework taken in high school.
This week Tryon filed House Bill 4424, a bill that would ease the process through which local boards of education excuse pupils from physical education classes so they can take Advanced Placement (AP) coursework.
“Today, students in Illinois are required to take PE five days per week unless a waiver is received, said Tryon.
“It is not unusual for waivers to be granted, but he process for students to receive a waiver to allow for AP coursework is very difficult.
“We should be encouraging our high school students to be taking these college-level classes; not making it difficult for them to do so.”
Tryon said the idea for HB 4424 came from his District 66 Student Advisory Council.
“The group, which meets regularly throughout the year, is comprised of two upperclassmen from each of the five high schools located within the boundaries of the 66th legislative district.
“These students are very sharp, and they brought a legitimate concern to my attention,” said Tryon.
“Over the last few months we worked on creating a bill that would address the issue in a way we all believe is fair and reasonable.”
According to the language of the bill, a school board would be able to excuse any student in grades 9-12 from PE class if that student was enrolled in two or more AP courses.
“These are bright, academically talented students who are trying to enhance their college applications by showing success in advanced coursework,” Tryon said.
“The rising cost of college tuition is a real concern and these students are doing everything they can to bring as many credit hours as possible with them when they arrive at college. This translates to real money saved on tuition costs.”
In addition to the tuition savings associated with the bill, Tryon said increasing AP coursework for high school students improves the caliber of students that graduate from Illinois high schools.
“Today’s students compete globally for jobs when they enter the workforce and if we can increase the rigor in our high school classrooms our students will be better prepared for college and beyond,” he said.
Here is a related thought.
It should be a state law that any child who participates in a middle school and high school sport is prohibited from participating in PE in that semester or quarter.
Such kids already get exercise in their sport.
Of course there are details to work out such as Health class is often considered a PE class and there could be an argument made that Health class is required; sometimes sports don’t overlap quarters or semesters exactly, etc.
Instead of PE such Sport kids could be working on their academic skills, be it in an extra study hall, tutoring, an extra
class to work on areas of deficiency, an AP class, etc.
Why pay all that taxpayer money for a Sport kid to kick around a ball for an extra 45 minutes a day?
Some of those PE classes are complete blow-off classes, just talk to the kids taking the classes.
So why is the bill targeted only to AP kids?
What about the average kids and below average academic kids?
Why is Tryon not advocating for them?
So an possible undesired consequence of this bill is pushing kids to take an AP class, when they really are not suited for an AP class.
Talk to teachers.
There are kids already in AP classes who should not be there.
How many states require PE for all students?
I’m sure many don’t.
In Wisconsin, we were only required to take PE our freshman year.
Then again, for many years – Wisconsin had the the most overweight percentage of citizens in the country.
Not sure if that is related or not…
I agree with previous posters, it should not just be for AP students. It should be optional for all.
According to this article in 2011, only 5 states require PE all 4 years in high school:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/schooled_in_sports/2011/01/should_schools_make_physical_education_mandatory.html
Tryon should change the bill to read all students have the option.
Or work on something a little more pressing like the pension and budget deficits.
Gym class and full schedules are good for students
Would rather see Tryon make mandatory PE in the morning.
Studies show kids perform in school better when they have physical activity in the morning.
Illinois is one of the last states, if not THE last state, to still have mandatory PE. Don’t get rid of it!
I think PE is a great way for the children to release some energy, but once they hit Junior High, there was a forced shower!
Does that still happen in District 47?
No. No forced showering…. poor teachers.
Poor Teachers?
With the limited time in the PE Class, I doubt much odor was produced by any student.
As a parent, I did not force my children to shower after they played outside most of the day.
@anotherwatcher – You are just being oppositional to be oppositional.
Anyway, as I said before, I wish Rep. Tryon would otherwise mandate early morning PE – and to one up that – start school later as studies show test scores improve when students are allowed to sleep in longer.
Fair Play, a study was done back in the 90’s, if I remember correctly, saying children learn in the early morning hours . . . as the day progresses the need for activity is greater.
Now with all the studies being done, anything can be proved.
Science is not perfect and computerized science is even worse!
My comment about showers, was about forced nakedness, by teachers and enforced.
What’s the real issue here?
1) Do high schools students need more time in the school day to take one more AP class? Or
2) Do they not want to take gym?
It’s two separate issues.
The first can be solved by the waiver or taking summer classes at a community college (for a low fee) or even night classes if the student is that motivated for ONE more class that they are willing to give up gym.
The second issue can be solved BY GOING TO GYM.