Students need to get fit
Aric Juarez, Special to the Press DispatchThis spring all fifth-seventh- and ninth-graders will participate in mandatory physical fitness testing called the fitness gram, which involves six different activities to test a student's muscular strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility and body composition. A student who passes all six areas is considered physically fit.This spring all fifth-seventh- and ninth-graders will participate in mandatory physical fitness testing called the fitness gram, which involves six different activities to test a student’s muscular strength, aerobic capacity, flexibility and body composition. A student who passes all six areas is considered physically fit.
Fitness testing results for 2003-04 show that less than 30 percent of California students are considered fit. Only half of the ninth-grade students and less than 60 percent of fifth- and seventh-grade students completed the one-mile run in the allotted time. One-third of all students failed the body composition portion of the test, meaning they have excess body fat. One-third of all students also fell short in upper body strength and flexibility.
So what does this mean to our students? It means that we will begin to see a rise in type II diabetes, osteoporosis and many more lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in America today. Obesity rates are on the rise and our students show more interest in video games and computers rather than physical activity and sports.
As a physical education teacher, I and other PE teachers across the nation receive notes from parents each day to excuse their child from class. The reasons vary and range from having the sniffles to the student stayed up late studying for a test or they just aren't felling well enough to do any physical activity. I've also received notes asking me to excuse students from PE so they can go to other classes and do make-up work.
The message that physical education teachers are getting from families is that physical activity is not important. This type of attitude is a national problem. The state of California has even reduced the physical education requirement for graduation from four years to just two years.
What students don't realize is there are numerous benefits to being physically active. The first is just feeling better. Physical activity releases endorphins in your brain that give you energy and overall good feeling. It raises self-esteem and self-image.
Physical activity also strengthens the immune system and lowers blood pressure. By participating in regular physical activity you can lower body fat and maintain and appropriate weight.
Studies have shown that people who exercise also have fewer headaches and call in sick to work less than others. Physical exercise reduces stress and the risk of heart attacks. It promotes rest and sleep, and provides social opportunities.
Muscles and bones also become stronger as a result of physical exercise. If there were a pill that did all of these things, we would all run out and buy it.
Well, there is no pill that will do all of these things and there is no second chance at life. We must quit enabling inactivity in students and encourage them to become physically active.
The key to living a healthy happy life is through physical exercise.
Aric Juarez has been the physical education department head at the Academy for Academic Excellence for the past three years.Used with permission by Daily Press, Freedom Communication, 2005