What would you do with 40 more minutes in your day?

“Sleep,” said senior Allison Fowle, a member of the Stuyvesant girls’ swim team. I can safely say that the majority of Stuyvesant students don’t get enough sleep at night. But instead of constantly complaining about it, what if there was something we could do to change it?

On an average day, I get home from school around 7:00 p.m.. Swim practice ends at six, and then I have to shower, change and make my daily 20 minute walk home. By the time I’ve eaten dinner, unpacked my bag and pulled out my textbooks, it’s close to 8:00 p.m.. Then I start my homework.

I have it easy. I am one of only four people on the swim team who actually lives in Manhattan. Many people living in the outer boroughs do not get home until 8:00 or 8:30 p.m.. With Stuyvesant’s workload, they don’t even have the opportunity to sleep until midnight. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), an adolescent should be getting nine hours of sleep every night. Physically active teenagers should get even more.

According to the New York City Department of Education (DOE), to graduate, all public high school students are required to earn four credits of physical education (PE). Up until last year, Fiorella Laguardia High School, among other schools, allowed students who were active participants on sports teams to not take PE. With an extra 40 minutes in school to work, I, and other members of Stuyvesant sports teams, would have an extra 40 minutes to sleep.

There was really no reason to revoke the policy that excused sports team members from PE. Students participating on any Public School Athletics League sports team at Stuyvesant definitely meet or exceed the NIH’s suggested amount of physical activity of 30 minutes per day. A 40-minute PE class is necessary for those who are not getting a reasonable amount of exercise a day, but is unnecessary and excessive for teenagers who play a sport regularly.

Enacting this policy would not just relieve current athletes. The possibility of not being forced to take PE would make joining sports teams more appealing. Athletic extracurriculars are important, and a greater draw to join a team is beneficial to both the school and the students.

Naturally, many gym teachers are opposed to such a policy. “All Stuyvesant students have to take physical education. What makes athletes special? It’s a class, like anything else. Kids on Math Team aren’t exempt from Math class,” PE teacher Howard Barbin said. However, the policy has less to do with giving athletes special privileges, and more to do with allowing students to balance athletics with classes.

It’s highly unlikely that the DOE will change its policy. Unless, of course, we can prove to them that it really needs to be reconsidered. Writing letters to the DOE is one way that high school students can get their opinions on this issue heard. Also, if we were willing enough to create a formal petition, wouldn’t it be a stronger argument if we convinced PE teachers and coaches to sign? The extent of your involvement in this issue depends on how much you care for that extra sliver of time every day. Now, what would you do for 40 more minutes in your day?