At Scarsdale High School, students can apply to get exemption from Physical Education (PE) class if they participate in a junior varsity or varsity sport, replacing the 2 required PE periods into 2 additional free periods. However, earning this exemption is far from easy. The process includes a long registration procedure and strict rules governing practice attendance. Students must pass several physical tests and they must request and be approved for PE exemption. In addition, once a student misses eight or more scheduled practices or contests, they will need to return to their assigned PE class immediately.

One criteria that has received complaints is that a student must be in at least 10th grade or higher in order to apply. Freshmen have long argued that this rule is unfair. As Sean Ma ‘29 puts it, “freshmen put in the same amount of effort as sophomores and upperclassmen…It’s not fair when you only give them special treatment.” Given that freshmen are still adjusting to the high school’s free period system, a few extra free periods could “make the transition more comfortable,” says Ma. Freshman year is also the best time to explore new clubs, activities, and other academic interests. Forcing students to attend PE can discourage them from joining a sports team because the two extra periods would help them balance schoolwork, clubs, extracurriculars, and this new sport. Ultimately, it removes flexibility at a time when students most need it.

On the contrary, some students think that the restriction is beneficial. Max Itharat ‘29 said that “PE is essential for developing good, healthy habits.” From this perspective, requiring at least one full year of physical education ensures a baseline standard of physical activity for students. “PE teaches students how to stay active and manage stress, which supports both physical and mental health,” Itharat adds. Allowing freshmen PE exemption may also incentivize them to avoid exercise entirely if they simply state they are part of a sports team.

So, is there a middle ground? Possibly. SHS can make stricter criteria specifically for freshmen. A possible version of this policy could be that freshmen may only be allowed to miss 3 practices of their sport, rather than the usual 8. SHS can also limit eligibility to varsity athletes only, ensuring PE exemption only to those who show a genuine commitment to a sport, and not those who are just looking to skip PE. Such a policy would preserve the integrity of the system, while also encouraging freshmen to participate in a sport nonetheless. 

Whether or not SHS chooses to allow freshmen to get exempt from PE, it should remain a period dedicated to physical growth rather than a barrier that students attempt to avoid. SHS can assist freshmen to smoothly adjust by offering more privileges. If the goal of physical education is to encourage better physical and mental health, then a system that denies more freedom may be failing to serve its purpose, especially for students navigating a new environment.