Here's a breakdown of factors influencing its perceived importance:
* Funding cuts: Budgetary constraints in many schools led to reduced funding for PE programs, often resulting in fewer classes, less equipment, and fewer qualified instructors. This implicitly downgraded its importance.
* Standardized testing focus: The increasing pressure to improve standardized test scores in core subjects often meant less time and resources allocated to non-core subjects like PE.
* Rising childhood obesity rates: While the problem was already well-known in 2013, the widespread understanding of PE's crucial role in combating it was still developing. The link between physical activity and academic performance was also not as widely researched and accepted as it is today.
* Varying state and local regulations: The requirements for PE varied considerably across different states and even within districts. Some places mandated daily PE, while others had minimal or no requirements.
* Individual school priorities: Schools often prioritized subjects perceived as directly leading to college admissions, sometimes at the expense of PE.
In short, while PE's importance for physical and mental health was recognized in 2013, its practical implementation and overall societal prioritization were significantly lower than today, due to a confluence of financial, political, and educational factors. It was important to *some*, but not consistently valued across the board.