Opinions Editor Jonathan Saucedo is a three-year member of the Wildcat Chronicle who frequently writes opinion pieces. The views expressed in this piece are his own.
Let’s use a student as an example. One of his relatives had a very unexpected problem, which caused his whole family to worry about him. The student informed the school that he would be absent for some time, and they permitted him to leave. He continued to do his schoolwork while away to ensure that his grades remained at the same level as before he left. However, he was surprised that he received a 0/10 for participation points in PE, and he was unsure why.
Students who are absent from class receive a 0 for the day. If students attend class but are not dressed appropriately, they receive a 5 out of 10. Participation and meeting other requirements make up the grading system for PE classes for the entire year. While these grading criteria seem fair, there are instances when a student may be unable to attend school physically. Whether due to family issues, appointments with dentists or doctors, or severe illness, students still receive a 0 out of 10, which can significantly bring down their grades. This is particularly unfair for students maintaining a B grade or higher in their class.
“I don’t really mess with it to be honest, my schedule is kinda cooked either way with work an all so there are days where I’m way too exhausted from work and cannot make it ultimately destroying my grade which is crazy” Abdullah Bakshi, the senior student said.
Many students overlook the fact that they can resolve most of their issues by communicating with their physical education teachers. Two different scenarios can greatly impact students’ situations. For example, even with a broken arm, students can still walk and receive points as if they participated, without needing to change into their gym clothes. Additionally, when it comes to mental health, students can consult with their teacher about their reasons for not being able to make up missed classes or be present. This communication can get them out of being graded temporarily, easing their stress.
UPDATE: During the announcements, it is mentioned that there are specific days when students can come in after school at 3:30 PM to participate in fitness activities to make up points for the days they were absent. Additionally, students can also attend the 0-hour gym class to earn back their fitness points.
“If I had to ballpark it, I would say probably about 50% of the students actually make up when they’re absent” Conor Zaputil, Division head of PE, driver ed, and health said.
Even if students cannot attend school and get a 0/10, it would be better to have make-up assignments. While no student wants to work when they’re not feeling their best, students need to take advantage of make-up assignments to maintain their grades. Make-up assignments may not be the most enjoyable, but they are manageable. Instead of reading articles and answering questions, having a multiple-choice quiz on a topic like sports would be more engaging than more English work, but then again work is work and is never fun.
if students complain, the option is available for their benefit. Despite students not wanting extra work, not everything can go their way. It’s important to keep their grade up, especially since physical education should be the least of their worries in terms of schoolwork.
