What's the point of art/health, etc.

<p>I always wondered why do you have to take health and art classes in order to graduate. It's really frustrating because those classes really bring down my GPA. (I get A's, but it still manages to bring my GPA down) Not only the GPA factor, but I just find these classes completely useless. And seriously, am I going to change all of my unhealthy ways because of one semester of Health, I think not. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else despises taking these required classes. I mean if I didn't have to take a year of art, it would free up my schedule for an extra science or more useful elective.</p>

<p>Well-roundedness, my oh so frustrated friend. Besides, without art, where would you be? Think about it carefully.</p>

<p>Because they're there for real life. We need people in society who appreciate art and artistic creativity, and "personal health" skills even if it's crap like "have self esteem!". Having all people who take all advanced science classes in high school isn't always a good thing, since memorizing complicated lists of textbook can only take someone so far.</p>

<p>I know what you mean. I'm captain of the varsity cross country and track teams, and I have to drop an academic class so that I can take gym. =(</p>

<p>Art makes you more artistic.
Health makes you healthier.
And lots of times the usefulness of a lot of these requirements can vary depending on where you're from and who you are. Someone who doesn't know how to use a condom could really benefit from a health class...</p>

<p>I see the point of art, to expand your creativity and whatnot, but I don't understand the point of PE. I'm on the volleyball, swimming and softball teams. I work out 7 days a week! I've played all of the sports that they teach in PE at my school. And I HAVE to take it. ugh.</p>

<p>PE is supposed to teach you how to be physically fit, and to instil values of exercise. For your case, I can understand your anger, and it sucks to say that some schools actually allow you to not take PE if you are in a sport during that session. Art/music is very important to make sure you are cultured and not all one-dimensional and boring. Alos, my school teaches tech/vocational classes becuase it's often helpful, and it's reality to know that not everyone will be successful, so it's always helpful to know how to work a camera or to cut wood, etc.</p>

<p>We IB kids don't have to take PE. Yay.
This is one of the main reasons I'm still in IB.</p>

<p>In our school you don't need PE if you get varsity letter.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Someone who doesn't know how to use a condom could really benefit from a health class...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I go to a Catholic school(but I'm not religious) so our health class doesn't discuss sex ed. lol.</p>

<p>i like art. plus, i take it pass/fail, so it doesn't affect my gpa. </p>

<p>the only part i liked about health was when the sex-ed lady came in and pulled a condom over her entire arm. that was pretty sweet, and she basically shut up any guy who says that he's "too big" to fit in a condom.</p>

<p>I really don't understand why all of you guys are worried about how these classes your gpa. Honestly they're good for you, and colleges appreciated culture, and don't weigh these as heavily as they do the harder academics subjects.</p>

<p>i don't take art pass/fail because it hurts my gpa otherwise; i take it pass/fail because i think art interpretation is subjective, and by recieving a letter grade, a teacher is saying how "good" my art is. just because my teacher doesn't like it doesn't mean it's bad.</p>

<p>my ceramics teacher is all about functional pottery, but i can't stand that. when i took the class for a letter grade, he used to give me B's and C's because nothing i make is functional. everything i make is sculptural. even though all my pieces followed the guidelines, he still used his own opinion of my style when grading my pieces. so now i don't have to deal w/ that $hit because he can't fail me when i complete everything.</p>

<p>most kids like those kinds of classes because they are fun and give you a break from the normal classes in h.s.</p>

<p>Lol, good luck finding examples of "most kids" on CC. I don't know where some of you all attend school, but here the art/health/gym/whatever classes are so qualitatively degraded BECAUSE they're forced. You gain no substantial information from any of them because everyone's goofing off and the content is taught at the lowest common denominator. Not that I'm a fan anyway - I'm so scared that I'm going to be forced to take my fine arts credit next year instead of Calc BC or Physics C or something else that I'm actually going to need to get into a school I want to go to, and the possibility of that happening because some dumbass legislator up in Austin decided that I needed an "art" class to become "well-rounded" is simply ridiculous.</p>

<p>I think that every year, all schools should weigh/measure in students. Whoever fall in the overweight/obese catagory should be forced to go to health class.</p>

<p>Add English to this list. This class has not helped me one bit. I would've had a 4.0 without it.</p>

<p>You think YOUR health class is pointless? I've taken human anatomy, microbiology, forensic medicine, and TWO YEARS of physiology/pathophysiology.
health class was a WASTE OF TIME.
I know more about one nephron than that teacher knew about the whole damn human body.</p>

<p>[end rant]</p>

<p>Hmmm, first of all I love art. The easiest A in my life. I'm going to take AP Art Studio next year. </p>

<p>Second, I already took all my gym credits, so no more gym for junior and senior year. :)</p>

<p>To waste your time so that you can stay in HS longer, so instead of graduating in 3 years, you graduate in 4.</p>