Fail Fitness Test, Take PE Again

[hops_scout]

PE does not help obesity.

I disagree. I believe it would go a long way into helping to change the problem. It is not the ONLY thing that needs to be done, but it would be a step in the right direction.

Of course, you people keep saying "it won't work the way it is now" well I know that!!! But in most cases, in order to make changes in the PE program at a lot of schools, money is needed. And it's NOT PROVIDED!

[viscious]

PE programs will not solve the obesity problem in America. The problem is a cultural one, not one that can be fixed by shoving money at schools for PE programs. Why is it that schools outside the U.S. spend little to no money on physical education (iirc) yet their obesity rates are much lower?

[missypie]

My 15 year old is a dancer; I spend a lot of time at competitions this time of year. Lots of companies have heavy girls and a few are quiet heavy. They can do everything the other dancers do. They dance between 8-20 hours a week, working hard, sweating the whole time. They remain heavy. One of our best dancers is a girl with 40" chest and 40" hips...she dances about 10 hours a week at our studio and is her school drill team captain. She gets LOTS of exercise, she's very fit, but is still quite heavy. There's more to the issue than excercise.

[hops_scout]

There's more to the issue than excercise.

Absolutely! There's also much more to health than appearance shows you.

[faithinhim]

Oklahoma has no PE requirement whatsoever.

[HisGraceFillsMe]

Of course, you people keep saying "it won't work the way it is now" well I know that!!! But in most cases, in order to make changes in the PE program at a lot of schools, money is needed. And it's NOT PROVIDED!

Then fix the programs before you try and fix the kids. Like I said earlier, this law will never work because most CA PE systems are a joke. And because no one will hold a lot of kids accountable, you mark my words. Are the administrators really going to tell a kid, "Well you have amazing grades, ECs and everything else, and you've been accepted to __________, but you didn't pass the fitness test, so you can't graduate."

Lawsuits just waiting to happen, you mark my words. What parent wouldn't be irate?

[hops_scout]

Can you tell me why a FITNESS TEST is any less important than any other TEST? The word TEST is there!!

[ScottZ1980]

Are the administrators really going to tell a kid, "Well you have amazing grades, ECs and everything else, and you've been accepted to __________, but you didn't pass the fitness test, so you can't graduate."

But that won't happen. The article states that students will still graduate even if they don't pass this test. However, they will be required to take PE in high school every year until they do pass. The test is simply a benchmark for students to meet to get out of PE.

[HisGraceFillsMe]

Can you tell me why a FITNESS TEST is any less important than any other TEST? The word TEST is there!!

Other tests normally measure whether or not you have learned material in order to prepare for higher-level classes. Unless they're going to start offering AP Physical Education, I don't see the point.

Also, I find it interesting that no one is thinking about this: If kids don't want to go to class, they ditch. PE is most likely the most-ditched class at my school because it's such a joke. This would just make it all the worse.

[RacinReaver]

Maybe your school should start disciplining students.

[hops_scout]

Other tests normally measure whether or not you have learned material in order to prepare for higher-level classes. Unless they're going to start offering AP Physical Education, I don't see the point.

More important: Your LIFETIME health or a MEANINGLESS grade? I know the answer around here. It's all about the test score.

[horsegirl1050]

This program seems pretty benign...there isn't too much to object to. One of the other fitness test programs (PACER iirc) though, I had a big issue with because it made a point of measuring weight/body composition as part of the program. I have major body image issues (I was a heavy kid, I'm not heavy now, have dealt with disordered eating) and the idea of PE teachers basically measuring body fat in front of a class seems like a recipe for ridicule and disordered body image.

[zoosermom]

The thing that makes me rabidly angry is the habit of weighing students in front of others and then providing to parents a BMI and nutrition report. I told my daughter that she is not to participate in that again and the school can call me and hear from me exactly why. Aside from the fact that her weight is none of their damn business and I can quite well parent my own child.

[Pizzagirl]

What I think is absurd about many gym classes is that they teach team sports that don't lead to lifelong fitness habits. Look at most adults -- they don't stay healthy by playing team soccer or basketball or volleyball, they stay healthy by running, swimming, or working out - individual activities that they can do on their OWN schedule, not a team's schedule. I think many of us would have been better served by an hour of walking / jogging, working out on machines, strength training, etc. and giving us the positive feeling of feeling good from moving our bodies, than standing around while the "better" kids kicked, hit or threw the ball for which we got no cardio benefit anyway.

[missypie]

So true, Pizzagirl!!!!! I was an adult before I realized that one could be fit without being athletic.

I am just about the least coordinated, unathletic person I know. I was an utter failure at everything we did in PE class-softball, volleyball, basketball. I'd get through months of softball by playing extreme outfield (I.e. leaning against the back chain link fence); I'd be "nice" and let everyone bat ahead of me.

After law school I joined a gym and took aerobics classes and trained with weights - at age 27 I realized that I could be fit without ever having to touch a ball of any kind!!!