In previous years, only seniors on a varsity sport had the opportunity to opt-out of their physical education class during their sports season. However, the athletic office has changed the policy, now allowing both juniors and seniors on a varsity sport to opt-out provided that they take a five part fitness test. This ruling has been a source of controversy for two reasons. First, some were angered that juniors now have the opportunity to sidestep physical education, which was once a senior’s only privilege. Now juniors who pass the test can report to a study hall in place of their physical education period. Why is this honor being accorded on the basis of grade, and not prowess? The other issue is this: should removing a student from a class be viewed as a reward, particularly if the time-off is squandered?

Opting-out has been a privilege given to varsity-level students based on their athletic achievements at the school. After playing on a varsity sport, students are rewarded for their dedication and effort by switching their gym to a free period. However, since opting-out is a reward for varsity athletes, this sparks a new question: why are juniors and seniors allowed to opt-out, but not varsity underclassmen? There are a number of freshmen and sophomore athletes that are members of a varsity team. These varsity athletes, who put in the same effort as their upperclassmen counterparts, cannot opt-out. Junior Jen Bell has been on Varsity Swim and Dive since the 7th grade. This is her fifth year on the team, yet until this year she could not opt-out. Shouldn’t opting-out be based on merit, and not age?

Others argue for opting-out as a junior, saying that the addition of a study hall is a helpful break to students that gives them time to finish their homework in a particularly stressful year. Ms. Martinez, a librarian at PMHS, argues against that, however, saying it can get to a point where one can have too many frees.

“Evenly spaced out frees and study halls help,” she said. However, she believes it is possible for a student to have too much time off. When asked about the productivity of free periods for students, Ms. Martinez said, “A lot of kids just fool around. Maybe if they have frees in the morning they are actually working, but after lunch starts, no, they are just fooling around.” She makes the argument that too many periods off may, in fact, limit productivity.

Anyone on a varsity sport deserves the opportunity to opt-out. However, more than two free periods a day can lead to procrastination for students. The school needs to find a balance between inclusivity for all athletes and rewards for them as well, and students need to be accountable for their time so that time off is used effectively. Overall though, the message is clear: the new opting-out test must be re-considered, so that it is based on merit, not age and so that the time-off provided is put to good use.