New State Testing Guidelines for PE Implemented This Year
Changes in outdated standards based on an inaccurate BMI scale create a more equal playing field for PE students.
By Ezekiel McClintock
Changes in outdated standards based on an inaccurate BMI scale create a more equal playing field for PE students.
By Ezekiel McClintock
For decades, students have been taking part in physical fitness tests that are graded based on their body mass index and sex assigned at birth. Now, Pioneer's physical education classes are implementing rules that revoke the methods of past years, eliminating the barrier between genders and evaluating all students using the same rubrics and benchmarks.
As found on the California Department of Education website, the administration of physical fitness testing came with a few changes carrying over from the 2021-22 to the 2022-23 school year. In past years, teachers have been required to report on students' BMI based on height, weight and gender. This testing cycle, teachers will no longer have to collect students’ height, weight, gender or age for reports to the state.
Pioneer completes fitness testing once every six week grading period and conducts the sit and reach, pushup, mile, lunge and high plank tests. To receive a perfect score on their tests, students must be able to complete 100 yards of lunges, run an eight minute mile or lower, sit and reach 12 inches forward, hold a two and a half minute plank and complete 28 or more pushups. The fitness testing reported to the California Department of Education will be conducted between February 1, 2023 and May 31, 2023.
Second year PE teacher Jessica Davis prefers the plank over the curlup test, which was previously used to measure students’ abdominal strength, because the plank utilizes muscles throughout the body, whereas curlups use only abdominal muscles.
“The decision was also made to withdraw the curlup test and we replaced it with a standard high plank. While both tests require abdominal strength, years of testing curlups have shown us that it is inaccurate and doesn’t align with our mission to promote and practice a holistic experience,” said Davis.
Aidan Belur, 9, believes that the change is a good decision overall, pointing out that previous versions of fitness testing were unfair since there was a wide range of physical abilities that weren’t being considered equally.
"Why make one person do a certain number of something, and then make someone less capable do fewer or more of that same something?" said Belur.
While students' motivations in class have been affected in a variety of ways as a result of the new rules, they view the change in a positive light concerning the topic of gender equality in physical fitness testing.
"The change stopped stereotypes of 'superior genders' and it is nice to see more equality," said Max Lewis, 9.
Other students such as Tyler Kolman, 10, agree with the elimination of gender from consideration in the tests because of the differing aptitudes of students and their own personal drive to become better athletes.
"I believe the changes were made because people realized that it wasn't fair to make tests significantly easier for some people rather than others," said Kolman. “I don't think gender should play a role because being athletic is something you gain rather than are born with.”
Davis also recognizes that the PE department isn’t focused only on physical ability, but to encourage students to create lifelong habits for a healthy lifestyle.
“Student performance on the fitness tests have been successful. They are designed to hold students accountable for progress and each term, the trends show that students are improving their fitness,” said Davis. “The department’s focus isn’t primarily on a student’s athletic ability. The goal, rather, is to provide an environment that supports, encourages, and promotes a lifelong interest in fitness.”
As found on the California Department of Education website, the administration of physical fitness testing came with a few changes carrying over from the 2021-22 to the 2022-23 school year. In past years, teachers have been required to report on students' BMI based on height, weight and gender. This testing cycle, teachers will no longer have to collect students’ height, weight, gender or age for reports to the state.
Pioneer completes fitness testing once every six week grading period and conducts the sit and reach, pushup, mile, lunge and high plank tests. To receive a perfect score on their tests, students must be able to complete 100 yards of lunges, run an eight minute mile or lower, sit and reach 12 inches forward, hold a two and a half minute plank and complete 28 or more pushups. The fitness testing reported to the California Department of Education will be conducted between February 1, 2023 and May 31, 2023.
Second year PE teacher Jessica Davis prefers the plank over the curlup test, which was previously used to measure students’ abdominal strength, because the plank utilizes muscles throughout the body, whereas curlups use only abdominal muscles.
“The decision was also made to withdraw the curlup test and we replaced it with a standard high plank. While both tests require abdominal strength, years of testing curlups have shown us that it is inaccurate and doesn’t align with our mission to promote and practice a holistic experience,” said Davis.
Aidan Belur, 9, believes that the change is a good decision overall, pointing out that previous versions of fitness testing were unfair since there was a wide range of physical abilities that weren’t being considered equally.
"Why make one person do a certain number of something, and then make someone less capable do fewer or more of that same something?" said Belur.
While students' motivations in class have been affected in a variety of ways as a result of the new rules, they view the change in a positive light concerning the topic of gender equality in physical fitness testing.
"The change stopped stereotypes of 'superior genders' and it is nice to see more equality," said Max Lewis, 9.
Other students such as Tyler Kolman, 10, agree with the elimination of gender from consideration in the tests because of the differing aptitudes of students and their own personal drive to become better athletes.
"I believe the changes were made because people realized that it wasn't fair to make tests significantly easier for some people rather than others," said Kolman. “I don't think gender should play a role because being athletic is something you gain rather than are born with.”
Davis also recognizes that the PE department isn’t focused only on physical ability, but to encourage students to create lifelong habits for a healthy lifestyle.
“Student performance on the fitness tests have been successful. They are designed to hold students accountable for progress and each term, the trends show that students are improving their fitness,” said Davis. “The department’s focus isn’t primarily on a student’s athletic ability. The goal, rather, is to provide an environment that supports, encourages, and promotes a lifelong interest in fitness.”