Why is physical education a student’s most important subject? | William Simon, Jr. | TEDxUCLA

Summary

This speech advocates for physical education as a core subject in schools, emphasizing its importance for students' physical, emotional, and academic well-being. Despite its critical role in preventing chronic diseases and enhancing learning, PE often lacks adequate resources. The speaker shares personal experiences and research supporting the benefits of exercise for brain function and mental health. He calls for a reevaluation of priorities to ensure every child has access to physical education, particularly in low-income schools, and suggests that PE should be a fundamental right.

Takeaways

• 🏋️ Physical Education (PE) is crucial for promoting physical and emotional health, aiding in learning, and fostering character development in children.
• 📚 The speaker advocates for PE to be considered a core subject alongside math, English, science, and history due to its multifaceted benefits.
• 💸 The current school system often underfunds PE, with a median annual budget of $764 for an entire school, equating to mere pennies per student.
• 🌟 The speaker and his wife, Cindy, initiated the 'UCLA health sound body sound mind' program to enhance PE in schools by providing equipment, curriculum, and teacher training.
• 🧠 Exercise has been shown to improve academic performance, particularly in reading and math, by enhancing executive functions like focus and motivation.
• 🚀 Exercise acts as a 'miracle-gro' for the brain, optimizing mindset, aiding cell binding for information retention, and promoting the growth of new nerve cells.
• 🌟 The narrative of PE as the least important subject is challenged, with the speaker emphasizing its vital role in preventing chronic diseases and early death.
• 🌱 The personal story of the speaker's son, Willie, who has autism and benefited significantly from regular exercise, illustrates the transformative power of physical activity.
• 📉 Inactivity is labeled as dangerous and akin to 'the new smoking,' with a stark increase in obesity rates among children and adolescents.
• 💊 The World Health Organization highlights the negative impacts of obesity in children, including bullying, low self-esteem, poor academic and employment prospects, and increased risk of diseases.
• 🏥 The financial burden of inactivity is substantial, with potential savings of $62.3 billion over lifetimes if children engage in regular exercise from a young age.

Q & A

Why is physical education considered important for a student's overall development?

Physical education is crucial as it promotes physical and emotional health, aids in learning, and helps cultivate character necessary for productive adulthood.

How does the speaker view physical education in comparison to other academic subjects?

The speaker believes that physical education should be a core subject on par with math, English, science, and history, rather than being treated as the least important.

What is the median annual budget for physical education in schools as mentioned in the script?

The median annual budget for physical education in schools is $764 for the entire school.

What is the 'Sound Body Sound Mind' program, and how does it aim to address the issue of physical education?

The 'Sound Body Sound Mind' program, initiated by the speaker and his wife, aims to improve physical education by providing physical fitness equipment, curriculum, and training for physical education teachers in schools.

How does exercise impact academic outcomes according to the Institute of Medicine?

The Institute of Medicine found that exercise positively impacts reading and math subjects, which require good executive function, and there is a link between executive function and exercise.

What is the transformative impact of exercise on the speaker's son, Willie?

Exercise has been transformative for Willie, who has autism, helping him manage his weight and behavioral issues, and is considered the best therapy and medication he has ever had.

How does exercise affect the brain according to Dr. John Ratey?

Dr. John Ratey explains that exercise releases neural chemicals and growth factors that support the brain's infrastructure, optimizing mindset, aiding cell binding for information retention, and creating new nerve cells in the hippocampus.

What are the mental health benefits of exercise as discussed in the script?

Exercise releases endorphins that can help with mild cases of depression and anxiety, serving as a low-cost, effective, and natural way to deal with life stressors.

What is the connection between inactivity and obesity as described in the script?

Inactivity is a core cause of obesity, which has doubled amongst children since the 1980s and tripled amongst adolescents, leading to serious health consequences.

What is the financial impact of inactivity on children's lifetimes according to the Johns Hopkins research mentioned?

Johns Hopkins research suggests that putting children on a regular exercise program could save $62.3 billion over their lifetimes in terms of lost wages and medical expenses.

Why are low-income schools a special area of concern regarding physical education?

Children in low-income neighborhoods are nine times more likely to be overweight due to fewer safe places for exercise, limited access to healthy food, and expensive organized sports, making physical education in schools crucial.