The simple fact that more than 60 percent of kids in San Benito
County are not considered physically fit according to state
standards is alarming, but may not be as dismal as the numbers
first appear.
The simple fact that more than 60 percent of kids in San Benito County are not considered physically fit according to state standards is alarming, but may not be as dismal as the numbers first appear.
According to results of the annual California Physical Fitness Test, only 25 percent of fifth graders, 30 percent of seventh graders and 36 percent of ninth graders in our county passed all six of the test’s fitness categories. Statewide less than 30 percent of the roughly 1.3 million students who took the test last spring passed in every category – meaning over 950,000 students are not considered physically fit by the state.
Each spring students in California’s school system take the exam – which measures their aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension strength, upper body strength and flexibility, and compares the results to predetermined healthy benchmarks.
However, a closer look at the exam’s results show a silver-lining to an otherwise dark fitness cloud. Of the six fitness standards in the test, over 50 percent of fifth graders, almost 60 percent of seventh graders, and over 65 percent of ninth graders passed five of the standards and the numbers climbed to nearly 80 percent of students passing four of the criteria in San Benito County.
In fact, many educators place more importance on students passing five of the six categories because any one of the tests, such as the body composition, can skew the overall results. The body composition test compares a student’s body fat percentage, and height and weight against what is considered normal for their age group. However, as San Benito High School’s Physical Education Director pointed out, students who have higher muscle mass through weight training and athletics can fail that test even though they pass the others easily and are a picture of health. Similarly, the flexibility test, while still an essential element of overall health, is clearly not as important of a fitness indicator as the other tests.
However even with more students passing five of six tests or even four of six, there is still a significant number of children who are headed down a dangerous road at a very young age. Physical fitness has long been heralded as a key element to a healthy life and school is the best place to teach these children the importance staying in shape. At school, they’re away from the everyday distractions of video games and television, and most likely dying to do anything but sit in class.
Both schools in San Benito County and throughout the state need to focus more attention on teaching children how to live a healthy life and dedicate more time to physical education. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and children deserve no less.
To respond to comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or e-mail to ed****@fr***********.com.
