Athlete or not, students at ETHS are required to take four years of PE to graduate. Over the course of four years, it is almost inevitable that students will miss at least a handful of PE classes. No matter the gym class, the PE make-up policy is the same: 20 minutes in the required zone using a heart rate monitor.
Athletes are not fans of this policy, to say the least.
“Personally, I don’t like the policy because I have sports year-round, and I know I’m staying fit, even if I miss a lifting class,” said senior track athlete Esther Mueller.
The expectations of coaches and teammates alike at Evanston is that maximum effort is being given to one’s sport. Most athletes stay in their best shape through regular practices and games, and making the required AM support sessions feel unnecessary.
Ironically, most athletes’ absences in PE are related to their sport.
For some, being dedicated to a sport results in more issues in the class dedicated to physical education.
“I’ve been to at least ten AM support sessions because I missed every Friday in November for lacrosse due to four tournaments,” said double varsity freshman athlete Evie Holstine.“ It takes me two AM supports for every tournament I’ve had, so [I have had to go in] over ten times.”
The repetitive nature of the policy has caused some athletes to skip the make-up sessions altogether, even with the academic repercussions.
“I would rather just take the negative effect missing a PE class has on my grade than coming in to use the heart rate strap,” Mueller said.
Twenty minutes of having your heart rate up may not seem like a heavy load, but for varsity athletes, it can be difficult to get in the required zone. Athletes are willing and eager to work out, but many already do so on their own time in practices and games. Because of how often athletes work out, getting their heart rate up is no simple task.
“I’m a runner, so it’s extremely hard to get my body in the zone,” Mueller said.
As a soccer player, I am in recovery most days out of the week while in season. Pushing myself to get 20 minutes in the required zone at 8 a.m. the day after a game can be an injury risk and can negatively affect recovery.
But, as athletes, we often fail to realize that there are many people in the PE department that see us as student-athletes and do have our best interests at heart.
“I try to be mindful of what students are going through—their experiences, commitments, and how I can help with makeups. If they’re willing to communicate, I’ll work with them however needed. I strongly believe everyone in my department feels the same,” said PE teacher Dustin Bensko.
Even though many students are open about not coming into AM support for PE, administrators maintain their stance that some accountability measures are necessary for missed classes.
“If we collaborate, we can find solutions—maybe lowering the heart rate zone requirement to 60%,” said Mr. Bensko. “But maintaining consistent departmental policies remains important.”
“This policy isn’t going anywhere,” Bensko added. “Heart rate monitoring will remain part of our program for the foreseeable future.”
Despite ongoing complaints, neither students nor faculty have proposed a formal alternative system that fairly addresses missed coursework while accommodating athletes’ unique schedules.
