“What do we truly benefit from taking up less space on earth?” said one Hershey High School student who previously took the APEX online course.
APEX is an online physical education course offered at Hershey High School. The course is generally only available to juniors and seniors, and it lasts one semester for 0.5 credits. Students within Hershey High School have brought up issues with the course for the possible problematic nature of some of the assignments.
While the APEX curriculum is beneficial for a variety of students because of its flexibility and option for personalization, its controversial assignments- particularly concerning body image- have raised concerns among students that should not be ignored.
Numerous different assignments have been under question for their possible problematic nature. In one lesson, students learn about fitness trackers such as watches, cell phone apps, and more. These trackers are portrayed in a positive light, even though some specific apps are linked heavily to eating disorders. The lesson describes My Fitness Pal as a “convenient” app that stores data about nutrition, goals, and exercise.
Apps like My Fitness Pal focus on calorie counting, which can exacerbate body image issues and lead to more serious problems. According to the National Library of Medicine, 73% of participants within the study felt that the use of My Fitness Pal contributed to the development and continuation of their eating disorder.
According to Meg O’Connor, a dance instructor and choreographer who works with students who are the target audience for APEX, the lesson should “acknowledge both the benefits and potential dangers of tracking apps, rather than portraying them solely in a positive light.” In addition, one assignment requires students to “choose a friend or family member whom you think would benefit from more physical activity.” Students must use the benefits of exercise they learned in the respective unit to describe a person close to them who should exercise more.
One student who asked to remain anonymous took the class and shared their opinion on this assignment. “This is incredibly problematic. When I interact with people, I am not thinking about whether or not they need more exercise; I am thinking about their positive qualities as a human being. I do not want to think about the people in my life as adequately active or not active enough.”
These assignments are aiming to educate students about physical activity and health, but they could be doing more harm than good for students struggling with body image issues or disordered eating.
The course’s final assignment is the most controversial aspect of the course. The assignment provides two writing prompts to choose from, both requiring students to write a three page fitness plan. “How to lose 5 pounds of body fat in 4 weeks” or “How to gain 5 pounds of muscle in 4 weeks”. The most controversial is the prompt about losing weight. With rising rates of eating disorders in teens reported by UMass Chan Medical School, assignments that require students to research methods of weight loss are problematic.
A previous student of the course is in recovery from an eating disorder and said, “A healthy body is not always a skinny body, and a skinny body is not always a healthy body. When we focus on weight as the sole indicator of fitness, we fail to comprehensively appreciate the person’s fitness level.” By focusing on body composition alone, this is precisely what the APEX final does. One solution proposed by many students is an alternative final prompt in which students can write a fitness plan focused on performance, such as improving mile time or vertical jumps.
Meg O’Connor suggested a similar prompt, mentioning how it would encourage students to “build sustainable habits rather than focus on weight.” A prompt such as this would take the focus off of fat, muscle, and water weight while still adequately testing a student’s knowledge on fitness.
Despite valid concerns on specific assignments, the APEX course does offer several positive aspects, specifically for students that may have health issues or are seeking a more personalized fitness education. The course enables students to take other academic courses instead of using an entire period taking in-person gym class. In addition, the course allows students to use activities they are already participating in for credit, which makes extracurricular activities more efficient for students and rewards them for being involved in their community.
Students with health issues that stop them from taking a traditional gym class benefit from the course as well. Students with conditions that make exercise in warm environments difficult, like outdoor activities in a traditional gym class, can benefit from not needing to risk their health for a grade, while also getting physical activity appropriate for their body. Students are allowed to choose what activities they do for the class, which creates a better relationship with exercise. Northern Arizona University reports that finding forms of movement that one enjoys harbors a better relationship with exercise.
Mrs. Bean, the department chair for Health and PE at the time of the course’s creation, says APEX is beneficial because it is “completely personalized to each student.” By providing options, students can develop a more positive attitude towards exercise. APEX has many benefits for a variety of student demographics and can be beneficial when taken mindfully.
If a student is struggling with an eating disorder, there are many ways to get help through Hershey High School’s support systems. Ms. Schmidt, Hershey High School’s principal, recommends that any student dealing with disordered eating or body image issues should “find one safe adult to tell.” She stressed that students dealing with issues like this should talk to an adult within the school, or outside the school, and not someone their age. There are numerous support systems linked to the high school, such as support groups, day treatment programs at Hershey Medical Center, and other support systems. In addition, there are resources for students struggling with generalized mental health concerns, as well as grief support and substance abuse services. Mrs. Schmidt emphasizes that “the first step is telling someone who has access to help”.
By changing the way the APEX curriculum handles sensitive subjects like body image, the course can be more inclusive and beneficial to all students at Hershey High School. Any student dealing with disordered eating, body image issues, or who has any other mental health concerns should reach out to a counselor, teacher, or other trusted adult. To get in contact with a counselor via the HHS website.
