The Everett Community College Board of Trustees and The Herald Editorial Board support the imposition of a physical education and health requirement on EvCC students.

Bad idea.

Imposing a physical education and health requirement will take a significant bite out of the budget of an institution that is already over-enrolled by the equivalent of 500 full-time students, with no end to the student crunch in sight.

Where are the millions of dollars going to come from to fix the gym, to upgrade facilities and to hire new faculty to accommodate thousands of new P.E. students? (In 1971, during a time when the college had a physical education requirement, eight full-time P.E. instructors were employed. At present, there is only one full-time P.E. instructor at the college. EvCC has a lot more students now than it did back then.)

Wouldn’t scarce resources be better used to improve the college’s labs, and to upgrade vocational program resources? During a time when transfer students are battling for spots in core English and math courses, doesn’t it make more sense to apply resources to these areas rather than to expansion of physical education and health course offerings?

It doesn’t make sense to impose a requirement that has nothing to do with degree objectives on busy, financially strapped adults. A single mom living on financial aid who is trying to support her family by earning a bookkeeping degree should not be forced to sacrifice significant time and money on physical and health education, particularly when the same resources could be applied toward a computer or writing course that will actually help her in a future job. A transfer student who loves literature should not have to sweat in a gym instead of enjoying Shakespeare, unless he or she chooses to.

(There is no free lunch. Either a student gives up on an elective course or adds more credits to his or her degree program. Also, some two-year EvCC programs are already so packed with required courses that elective credit isn’t possible or feasible within the usual 90-credit span of a two-year degree. By pursuing this initiative the Board of Trustees is also saying that some students must extend their degree programs by five credits, and pay for the privilege of doing so.)

Most students currently have a choice. They have the option of taking a P.E. or nutrition class as an elective. This is as it should be. It is otherwise none of the business of a state institution to impose health or physical education standards on adults who are not interested in those subjects.

And where does the line get drawn in terms of the courses that should be mandated as part of a degree program? Parenting skills are also important. Will this subject now be added to vocational and transfer degree requirements? If not, why not? It makes as much sense to add this subject as it does P.E. and health. What about computer literacy? Economic literacy?

The reader might consider the cost and inconvenience of this imposition by imagining paying $346 for tuition, and then investing 70 hours over the next 10 weeks lifting weights, swimming laps, playing flag football or bowling, and sitting in a classroom learning about health and nutrition. Of course, this would be a good and healthy thing to do, but how would you feel if this activity was required for promotion at your place of work? A bite out of the family budget? Doesn’t relate to your job? Better things to do?

Why should a degree-seeking student at Everett Community College be expected to feel any differently?

Over the past 25 years, Chad T. Lewis has served in the roles of instructor, counselor and dean at Everett Community College.