College's Too Fat to Graduate rule under fire.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Elementary school and high school are different than college. Period. They're paid for by the taxpayers . . . .

So are many colleges, at least in part -- sometimes quite a large part.

I just don't see any problem at all with a college requiring a physical education/health component for all baccalaureate degrees. I'd say historically, it has been the rule rather than the exception.

I do quibble with (okay, laugh at) what has sometimes passed for phys ed/health at many colleges and universities, and I think Lincoln has gone about it all wrong, but I think a college education is about more than just getting a degree so you can go forth and work. College should be much more than an expensive training school.

[pbear19]

I took a 100-level health course in college because it was required of all students. I can't honestly say that I learned anything, but it wasn't a bad thing to have to take it.

Something else I just thought of: It's really short-sighted to single out the high-BMI students for this class for another reason. How many of the <30 BMI crowd know next to nothing about how to eat healthy because they are young and have never had to worry about it? What happens to them in 5 or 10 years when life suddenly catches up with them? Wouldn't it be a good idea to give them the skills and knowledge now so that they understand their unhealthy habits aren't going to fly in a few years? Or does the administration of the university just assume that those who are relatively thin now will always be like that? Heh. I can see how an 18 year old would think that. But I would have thought a college administrator would know better. Sometimes the people who have the worst health problems down the line are the ones who are thin and can eat any kind of junk they want when they are young, so they never learn the difference.

If the university really cared about its students, all students would be required to take the course.

@Sydney - Sounds like you are making the assumption that anyone with a 30+ BMI is inactive. There are a *lot* of overweight people who are quite active. Ever heard of the Athena and Clydesdale classes in running?

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by pbear19

@Sydney - Sounds like you are making the assumption that anyone with a 30+ BMI is inactive. There are a *lot* of overweight people who are quite active.

Nope. Not making that assumption at all. I'm sure there are people who have a high BMI who are active. But, if I were a betting person, I'd put money on 30+ BMI people, as a whole, being less active than below 30 BMI.

[pbear19]

Question for anyone who is ok with the class being just for the 30+ BMI crowd:

Why do you think the university should not require this course of every student? Do you think that the "thin" students have nothing to learn, and are never going to be at risk of gaining weight? Do you genuinely think that the "thin" students are healthy, and have sufficient knowledge about health and fitness? Or is there some other reason?

I'm just really curious why the course shouldn't be required of everyone.