When it comes to fitness in schools, expectations are harder for some students than others. We are expected to do jumping jacks and running in place, and even sit-ups or push-ups at a young age, which makes the weaker students become targets of teachers and students. Ones that get picked last, or ones that cause their team to lose the game, you name it, they will have kids making fun of them or bullying them.
We shouldn’t expect a student who has asthma to be able to run nonstop for a mile, or for a student who has crutches to play kickball.
When it comes to the fitness tests, it’s required by the state that you have to pass, with a certain score for each. It’s not fair for the ones who have trouble concentrating, or are too short to do a pull-up on the bars, or can’t run for more than 30 secs because they feel like their lungs will explode. Standardized testing, especially for Physical Education, should be built around the students who are taking it.
Whether it be a child with asthma, by letting them have a slower time running the mile as a passing grade, or letting a child who can’t do a push-up or sit up get something to replace that activity. I was that child who couldn’t run a mile in less than 3 minutes in high school, or couldn’t reach the bar to do pull-ups when I was in first grade, but I also didn’t ask to be short or have asthma.
Kids shouldn’t be penalized because of things that they can’t control. They should have personalized standardized tests that fit each student individually, something that is filled out at the beginning of the year, so the state knows what to expect from each student. It shouldn’t stop there either; it should work for regular P.E., not just fitness tests. I know some days I dreaded going to P.E. because we were playing a team sport, and team activities don’t work for everyone. What we needed is specialized classes or even schools, and that would make each child get the right education and not feel outcast. Hopefully one day that will happen.
