<p>Some of our high schools having swimming as a requirement (including the one on the other side of our town). Swimming is part of their regular PE program. A recent immigrant drowned in one of the school pools the day before Thanksgiving during PE class. Another drowned at the beginning of the year at a different school. I’m all for teaching kids to swim, but am wary of swimming as a PE requirement at either the HS or College level. I remember taking a swim test with my 4th grade class in our town pool. so they obviously started even earlier - maybe a good thing, because failing the test in front of your peers isn’t such a big deal when you’re younger.</p>
<p>At least in college, they can keep certain classes open only for the non-swimmers, but it HS they have them all together. I think that’s a recipe for disaster, as the instructors’ attention is likely to be divided.</p>