Students are conflicted with the rules involving swimming for gym and making up absences. Even with students having an excused absence, a student will still have to make up the class.
When there is an absence during a gym class where everyone is swimming, the student has to stay for remediation. To make up the class, a student has to change, do a couple of laps in the pool, get out, and shower.
“I missed a day of swimming for an orthodontist appointment, and now I have to stay after school to make it up by doing a couple of laps. It doesn’t feel necessary,” commented senior Oliver Blachnio. Blachnio noted swimming is the only activity you are required to stay to make up despite an excused absence.
In addition, when a student is swimming for gym class, they have to change with others and some people don’t feel comfortable doing that. Before and after swimming has always been a little weird and awkward to do with others. “I’ve always dreaded changing with people I don’t know or talk to,” said junior Shane Kerosetz. With normal gym class, you aren’t as exposed as changing into a bathing suit, which is an awkward situation for many students.
Finally, with swimming in gym class, there is always a risk that someone could get hurt. “I feel bad for students that don’t know how to swim. It’s difficult and dangerous. It may be good exercise, but it’s definitely not safe for students that don’t know how to swim,” commented junior Jack Schmehl.
Overall, swimming does provide good exercise for students, but is also unnecessary due to the other opportunities for exercise in a gym class such as basketball, dodgeball, or other sports. Forcing students to stay for remediation just to swim laps shouldn’t be a requirement, and the risks associated with swimming make it more dangerous than other activities.
