Why Aren’t PE Students in Alabama Taught to Swim?

The fact of the matter is that summers here can be brutal. This means that water play is a significant part of recreational activities to keep cool.

With this in mind, it is almost a necessity for area children to learn to swim. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. In addition, for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.

If students are taught to play football, basketball, baseball, and even table tennis, why aren't they taught to swim, which is not only a sport but also a skill which could save a life? Swimming is one of those things its better to know how to do and not need it than to need to do it but not know how.

Sure there's liability in teaching a child to swim, but there's also liability in a child being hit on the football field. Would you support swimming as part of a PE class at a certain age?