I come down hard on the side of mandatory PE. When I was in school it was....every year. We had to be able to swim to graduate from high school. We wore goofy red uniforms and tank suits to swim. We were not allowed to have competitive sports with other schools (just within our own) as that was only for boys.

And I am grateful that I had to take PE. As a result I can bowl, play tennis, watch a basketball, baseball or soccer game (among many others!) gymnastic meet or swim meet -- and understand not only what is going on but also what it takes to play.

I was a merely adequate athlete but I developed the exercise habit -- which I continue to this day.