Although Gilroy Unified School District’s physical fitness
scores showed minor improvement over last year, the district’s
students still posted extremely low scores that lag behind the
state average.
Although Gilroy Unified School District’s physical fitness scores showed minor improvement over last year, the district’s students still posted extremely low scores that lag behind the state average.
Results from the California Physical Fitness test administered last spring show that 9 percent of fifth graders, 17 percent of seventh graders and 24 percent of ninth graders in Gilroy met the state standard of physical fitness. The statewide averages are 25 percent for fifth graders, 29 percent for seventh graders and 26 percent for ninth graders.
One of the reasons Gilroy students don’t pass the test is that GUSD doesn’t meet state standards for the number of minutes students spend in physical education class each week.
Now is the time to change those numbers. With a new school board about to be sworn in, trustees should make improving physical fitness of Gilroy students a top priority.
There are sound academic reasons for this policy. Playing hard helps students work hard. Studies show that physical fitness improves academic performance at all grade levels – and that goal already tops GUSD’s to-do list.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Physical fitness reduces health problems caused by inactivity, primarily obesity. Childhood obesity has doubled since 1980. This easily prevented problem is associated with higher risks of many diseases, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and shorter life spans.
A 2000 report on increasing physical activity in young people pointed to the lack of regular, supervised physical education time as one of the main causes of the skyrocketing obesity rates in the United States and made this recommendation:
“All children, from prekindergarten through grade 12, should participate in quality physical education classes every school day. The importance of making physical education fun was illustrated by a national survey of students in grades 4–12, which found that enjoyment of physical education class was one of the most powerful factors associated with participation in physical activity outside of school.”
The new GUSD School Board should bring this data to the table in the ongoing negotiations with the teachers union to find a way to increase the school day by 30 or 40 minutes so that all students can participate in a PE class. Union leaders should be flexible, and all parties should think creatively and keep the best interest of GUSD students foremost in their minds.
It’s time to stop asking elementary school teachers to “fit in” the required minutes of PE into their already too-crowded day and take this issue seriously by setting aside time and resources to meet this basic requirement.
We’ll improve academic and fitness test scores, we’ll lower student stress levels, we’ll establish a healthy habit, and we’ll improve student health.
Regular PE classes for all GUSD students is a no-brainer. Let’s find a way to make it happen.
