Although there is always some controversy regarding physical education as a regular part of a school curriculum, there is overwhelming evidence of its importance. It should be mandated that both male and female students participate in physical education as a means of keeping the young physically active and healthy and as a means of laying foundations for longer and healthier lives. Traditionally in the Kingdom, physical activities, such as participation in sports has been largely restricted to males. But young women are just as much in need of such physical activities as are young men. Without a doubt, there are both physical and mental differences between men and women but there are common physical traits that require care and nurturing in both genders. Physical activity has been proven to lengthen lives and improve the quality of life of both men and women. Male and female hearts and lungs are basically the same and the circulatory system that enables the heart and lungs to function optimally bears little difference in either of the sexes. Physical exercise is necessary to keep these systems healthy and that is a simple scientific truth for both men and women. It is an old truism that men thrive on competition and women thrive on cooperation. Psychological and sociological studies do show that men and women tend to approach certain kinds of problems differently and the means of communication within the sexes does indeed differ. Yet, just as participation in sports has traditionally been hailed as a means for young men to prepare for the competitive world in which they will eventually live, it can also serve the same purpose for the women. Competition in and of itself is not necessarily a cutthroat activity and allowing women to participate in sporting events will only prepare them for the world that they will be entering. The simple fact that 250,000 Saudi female college graduates are expected to apply for 10,000 teaching jobs in the Kingdom is ample evidence of the need for women to accept and understand the nature of competition, be it on the basketball court or in the job hunt. Physical education is a must for both men and women. It is healthy, good for the mind and, in the end, a lot of fun. __
