Gilroy
– Although students in Gilroy still aren’t as physically fit as
the state thinks they should be, ninth-graders are getting
there.
According to the California Physical Fitness test administered
last spring, about 9 percent of fifth-graders, 17 percent of
seventh-graders and 24 percent of ninth-graders in Gilroy are
considered physically fit.
Gilroy – Although students in Gilroy still aren’t as physically fit as the state thinks they should be, ninth-graders are getting there.
According to the California Physical Fitness test administered last spring, about 9 percent of fifth-graders, 17 percent of seventh-graders and 24 percent of ninth-graders in Gilroy are considered physically fit.
Statewide, those numbers are 25 percent for fifth grade, 29 percent for seventh and 26 percent for ninth.
Compared to last year’s results, Gilroy’s fifth-graders showed a 3.4-percent improvement in students passing all six tests, while seventh-graders’ results decreased by 1.6 percent. Test results from the ninth grade saw the biggest change, with a 10.3-percent increase.
Gilroy High School principal Bob Bravo attributed the high school’s success partly to the fact that all the P.E. teachers at the high school are returning teachers.
“We have the same teachers working on getting the results,” he said.
Ninth-grade P.E. classes also have added to their curriculum “Fitness For Life,” a textbook that teaches choices for healthy living.
The state offers districts different options for testing their students in P.E., with some options easier than others. For example, districts could choose to administer a walking test in lieu of a one-mile run. Because the Gilroy Unified School District chooses to implement the more demanding tests, scores aren’t as high as they might be if tests were easier, Bravo said.
“We’re happy to see the increase (at the high school), although our scores aren’t where we want them to be,” he said. “But the hardest testing mode is what we choose when we have that option.”
Two years ago, only about 7 percent of fifth-graders were considered physically fit. About 17 percent and 19 percent of seventh-graders and ninth-graders passed, respectively.
The test requires students perform physical exercises in six fitness categories: aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension, upper-body strength and flexibility. Students who meet all six standards are considered physically fit.
This is the fifth year that the state has required schools to report physical fitness test results, with the exception of the 1999-2000 school year. More than 1 million students in grades five, seven and nine took the test statewide.
The state requires that elementary students receive a minimum of 200 minutes of P.E. every 10 days, or every two school weeks. Junior high and high school students are supposed to receive 400 minutes.
Teachers of grades one through three are responsible for fitting the P.E. minutes into their daily schedules, while students in grades four and five receive 30 minutes of structured P.E. one day per week. The remaining 70 minutes are the teachers’ responsibility.
With all the other subjects teachers have to cover in a day, P.E. often takes a backseat, said Pat Vickroy, who teaches physical education for the district.
“Classroom teachers are so overwhelmed that they can’t make an effort to provide quality physical education,” Vickroy said. “As a generalization, most of them do not do any physical education.”
Pat Midtgaard, one of two new trustees elected to the school board, said although piecing P.E. into the puzzle of the day is a challenge for teachers, it’s not impossible – and the benefits are well worth the effort.
“Time is certainly an issue and it can be difficult, especially given the current focus on literacy and language arts, which there has to be given our test scores and the fact that so many kids aren’t up to standards in those areas,” she said. “However, I have seen some teachers successfully work (P.E.) into their day. They make it a priority: three times a week, 20 minutes to half an hour each time.”
Midtgaard said that when she was principal at Rucker Elementary from 1995 to 2000, she worked with a teacher who started his day, every day, with 20 minutes of physical activity with his students.
In grades six and above, students take daily P.E. classes with a P.E. teacher. But those teachers are directed to use that time for language arts and writing exercises instead of P.E., Vickroy said, which is in violation of state law.
Jack O’Connell, state superintendent of education, said although the scores statewide are climbing slowly, the level of students who are not physically fit “remains unacceptably high.”
“We have a long way to go to eradicate this silent epidemic of childhood obesity and poor health. Children who have poor eating habits and don’t exercise put their health at risk,” O’Connell said.
This year, 27 percent of students in the three grades statewide achieved in all six fitness areas – a 2-percent increase from last year.
“My analysis is we’re moving in the right direction, but we know we have much more that can and will be done,” he said.
O’Connell emphasized the correlation between physical fitness and academic excellence, encouraging districts to dispel the myth that the two areas are mutually exclusive.
“When we want our students to meet higher academic standards, it’s important that schools stay focused on improving students health and fitness,” he said. “Strong bodies and strong minds work together to help students succeed.”
Yajaira Aispuro, a sophomore at Gilroy High School, said she and her friends don’t particularly enjoy P.E. and don’t see the relationship between physical fitness and academic success.
“P.E. isn’t really that fun, but it makes us work out, so that’s good,” she said. “But I think we should dedicate more time to our education and other subjects, like reading and math.”
O’Connell also announced the launch of the second annual Superintendent’s Challenge, which recognizes districts that make an effort to provide healthier meals, nutrition education and physical activity programs and classes to students. The most exemplary districts will receive a cash award of up to $10,000, based on available funding.
“Schools need to recognize that if you improve physical activity and improve nutritional options for students, that will help you gain greater academic achievement,” O’Connell said.
Jacki Horejs, assistant superintendent of educational services, said the district is continuing to work on its P.E. curriculum so students in Gilroy will meet state requirements. But finding the time for P.E. in a day crammed with many other subjects often is difficult, she said.
“We keep trying as hard as we can to ensure that we’re making sure that our students have the kinds of activities throughout the instructional day that will help ensure that they’re going to meet these requirements,” she said.
Horejs said how much attention P.E. gets at each school and in each classroom largely depends on the teachers.
“I don’t think there can be a generalization district wide. It really varies. Some elementary teachers are really, really devout physical fitness instructors, and there’s a great emphasis on components in helping make students physically fit,” she said.
Vickroy said he was not surprised in the least by the test scores, as the district is continuing to place P.E. on the backburner.
“(The scores are) exactly what I expected,” he said. “There’s been no change to the curriculum or the amount of time students are participating in elementary school physical education for the past several years. It’s actually probably getting worse. Some teachers can’t even find time to take their students out of the classroom.”
The latest results are “another glaring example” of how physical education, music and art are being sacrificed for language arts, math, and most recently, science, Vickroy said.
“It’s ludicrous that we continue to test the kids with no resolve to improve the physical well being of our students. We continually measure students we already know are unhealthy and unfit, and what do we do with the results? Nothing.”
Fitness test
The physical fitness test marks student achievement in six areas. Here are a few of the tests students take when measuring their level of physical fitness.
• One-mile run
• Body Mass Index
• Sit-ups
• Pull-ups
• Push-ups
