Beginning this school year, the San Mateo Union High School District implemented an alternative to Physical Education classes for sophomore student-athletes. Instead of attending PE class, they can report to the library and have a study hall period for the duration of their sports seasons.
Adopted at a Board of Trustees meeting on June 27, the program began at Aragon on Sept. 5. It aims to relieve some stress from student-athletes, who have limited time to complete schoolwork with practices and games after school.
Athletic director Steve Sell explains the various factors that contribute to the program being open to sophomores only and not freshmen.
“[The Board] wanted everybody to get a full year of core PE,” Sell said. “It would be tough for freshmen. With sophomores, at least [coaches] know for the most part about who’s going to be on the team. You have no idea who [the freshmen] are.
Many student-athletes feel that this program helps to make their schedules less stressful.
“An extra hour can always help someone whether it’s to help them stay on top of [homework] or just take a break physically,” said sophomore Kylie Avila.
“It would be tough for freshmen. With sophomores, at least [coaches] know for the most part about who’s going to be on the team.”
Sophomore Evie Stern, who plays water polo in the fall and swims in the spring, decided to participate in the program this school year. She echoes Avila’s comments about its benefits.
“One of the main problems that I’ve had throughout my freshman year was that practice takes a lot of time out of your schedule,” Stern said. “I would fall behind in some of my classes and it was a lot of work to catch back up. The study hall just offers you an extra 90 minutes to catch up on that work.”
Stern also feels that the break from PE will allow student-athletes to rest more during the season and prevent injury.
“It’s really exhausting to be running six jog-walks at 10 a.m. and then have two hours of practice at 3 p.m.,” Stern said.
Despite challenges with coordinating the program between administrators, athletic directors and PE teachers across the district, Sell believes that the program will help student-athletes succeed.
“I’m a fan of it,” Sell said. “I have no objection to a little bit of chaos if it’s good for kids. If my kids [were still] going to school here, I would want this for them.”
“I would fall behind in some of my classes and it was a lot of work to catch back up.”
Although the program is new this year, the district had a similar program years ago before the schedule changed to the current double block schedule. PE teacher Annette Gennaro-Trimble thinks that a schedule change is required to truly lighten the load on student-athletes.
“The concept of what they’re trying to do makes complete sense, but what’s really going to help our athletes, as well as all the rest of the students, is changing the schedule back to what we used to have,” Gennaro said. “[With] the double block days for our athletes, after the second year of doing it, [the athletes are] just missing a lot of school. It’s difficult for our students.”
While many students feel that this program will help, some sophomores may choose not to opt in and remain in their PE classes.
