"Fitness testing is not going to improve the health and well-being of American youth. The question is not, Should we fitness test, yes or no? Really, the question is, What systems are in place? If we have this data, what systems are in place in our schools, in our communities, to spark a lifelong interest in physical activity?"
"This fitness award is given out to those who excel in the Presidential Fitness Test, which was first introduced to middle and high schools in the late 1950s and then phased out in 2013. Previously, kids scoring in the 85th percentile for their gender in each component of the test received the Presidential Physical Fitness Award."
"It's unclear, though, how exactly the test is being administered or how the awardees will be chosen. According to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the test is also now being made mandatory for students at 161 schools on U.S. military installations."
"This is not the old Presidential Fitness Test. The current administration is bringing back the award, but the specifics of its implementation are still uncertain."
Experts believe that reinstating the Presidential Physical Fitness Award and annual fitness tests in schools will not improve youth health or physical activity. The focus should be on creating systems that promote lifelong interest in physical activity rather than merely conducting fitness tests. The Presidential Fitness Test, which included various physical challenges, was phased out in 2013 but has been revived by President Trump. The current administration is making the test mandatory for students at military installations, but details on its implementation remain unclear.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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