State Orders Fitness Testing

By KAITLYN ROLLINS, News Editor

Feb. 22, 2008

To obtain data about the health of students, the Texas Education Agency has ordered fitness tests for everyone in grades 3-12. China Spring will give the tests this spring.

With rising instances of child obesity, TEA officials plan to spend $2.5 million to equip schools with Fitnessgram, a testing tool that includes computer software to train teachers how to conduct the test.

Athletic trainer Tommy Billeaud will oversee the tests for the high school.

“As a school district, we’re hoping to promote healthier, happier, productive students,” Coach Billeaud said. “I think in the technology age that we’re accustomed to, people want to stay indoors, [so] the fitness tests are a way of getting people off the couch and away from the TV to go do something.”

As Principal Marc Faulkner said, the test’s results will “give the state an idea if students are fit according to state standards.”

To pass, students must score in the 80th percentile for their age and sex. Students who fail will not be penalized.

“There have been reports about the national weight average of kids, and Texas falls in a category that is not too favorable,” Coach Billeaud said. “They feel like everyone’s too unhealthy, and Legislators looked at it and made an abrupt move on it.”

            Included in the test will be a one-mile run or walk, body mass index check, curl-ups, trunk lifts, push-ups or pull-ups, and a shoulder stretch test. Administrators say they are confident the school will do well.

            “I feel like for the most part, China Spring students are pretty active,” Coach Billeaud said. “A lot of kids are active in athletics, band, dance, cheer, and other similar activities that keep them in shape.”

            While everyone has to take this test, there is a way to exempt it.

            “We’re going to send out a letter to parents, so if they don’t want their kids to do it, they can sign it and return it,” Coach Billeaud said. “And it’s not true about having to do this to graduate. You can opt out by getting the letter signed.”

            While Mr. Faulkner said he thinks the testing “started with way too high of a grade and should have started with 6^th grade and below,” he does think some good things will come out of it.

            “It will hopefully increase awareness of child obesity,” he said. “Also, I want us to prove that it’s not needed so they’ll discontinue it.”