Physical Education of some sort should be mandatory as well as some sorts of visual arts program. Obesity is a leading issue in America today, and it is because kids don't receive the exercise that they need. The government has wasted money on a myriad of programs imo, they should keep up with the spending on PE for public education facilities throughout America. At least one year of P.E. should be required in every high school.
Coming from the perspective of a student, the P.E. in school behaves much like the academics. There is always that one kid who doesn't care. Academically it's more often the druggy kid who maybe didn't grow up in the best environment than it is the kid who grew up in a good environment. As for P.E., the kid who doesn't care is usually the fat kid because exercise and physical activity (at their current state) causes a lot less pleasure and entertainment that a couch with a TV and a bag of chips. In both cases, it's the student who probably needs it more than the rest
We all knew the fat kid in school, and today there are many more than just one. I will admit though of the "fat" kids in school, they are all in 1 of three states of mind (listed from the most common to the least common).
1) The kid who doesn't care, he/she makes the fat jokes too and finds a way to be accepted.
2) The kid who is in denial; he/she may be 400lb but still claim to be big boned and has told himself/herself so many times that they're not fat that they're actually believing it. Usually their friends have backed off the subject as discussing it causes more trouble and drama than it's worth.
3) The kid who actually cares, feels embarrassed or ashamed, and would love to be able to change. Usually they're less social and stick with their group of friends because they are scared people won't accept them.
Also, P.E. is required, in fact 1.5 years of it is needed just to graduate. You can take more of course, but you can probably guess who chooses to take more. Most often it's the kids on the athletic teams who are already fit, with some stragglers split between "I would like to be in better shape", or "I wish I could finally get that six pack", and "Gym is such an easy class who cares if I have to work out and exercise; easy A"