On July 31, with the signing of Executive Order 14327, President Donald Trump took the first step in initiating the return of the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools.
The announcement has elicited a wide range of reactions among students and staff: from worry over its difficulty to praise for reemphasizing a nationwide measure of youth fitness
The test, which began in 1956 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, includes standards for both boys and girls for curl-ups, a shuttle run, a v-sit reach or sit & reach, a one-mile run and pull-ups. The standards vary by age, and the test is administered to kids ages 6 to 17.
The standard for a 16-year-old high school boy to quality for the top standard (Presidential Physical Fitness Award) includes: 56 curl-ups or 73 partial curl-ups, 8.7 seconds shuttle run, 6 inches for v-sit reach or 38 cm for sit & reach, 6:08 mile, and 11 pull-ups or 44 Rt Angle Push-ups.
The standard for a 16-year-old high school girl to quality for the top standard (Presidential Physical Fitness Award) includes: 45 curl-ups or 49 partial curl-ups, 10.1 seconds shuttle run, 9 inches for v-sit reach or 42 cm for sit & reach, 8:23 mile, and 1 pull-up or 24 Rt Angle Push-ups.
Sophomore Allen Huang told The Falcon that the mile time is an unreasonable expectation..
“I think 6 min 8 sec for 16-year-olds is a bit of a reach and I feel along with many other students we will not be able to pass this standard, especially from my experience in my 9th grade PE class,” he said..
The test was discontinued in 2012 by former President Barack Obama amid concerns that it was emotionally stressful; some students said it contributed to humiliation, leading to insecurities about body image from a young age.
Obama also suggested that the test brought humiliation to less fit students and criticized how the test focused solely on athleticism rather than overall health; he replaced it with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, which aimed to focus on health and long-term well-being rather than athleticism.
According to CNN, Trump is trying to revive the test to emphasize a healthy lifestyle for children starting early on in their lives.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated President Trump’s goal to provide young Americans with the opportunity to prioritize a healthy lifestyle, allowing new generations to become mentally and physically capable.
Some students said they expect the Presidential Fitness Test to be beneficial to their health while providing a good benchmark for their physical ability.
“I think there should be a baseline test for fitness for everybody, and I don’t disagree with the choice [Trump made],” sophomore Aryan Swamy said.
Though much discussion has surrounded this test, no exact date has been mentioned yet for it to take place. After the signing of the executive order, there have been no concrete plans put forth, bringing both confusion and relief to many.
The Falcon reached out to the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District for clarification on when the policy would come into effect for SHS, but did not receive a reply.
PE teachers see some benefits to reinstating the fitness test. Similar to students, they agree that all students should have a baseline fitness test that helps them recognize their own capabilities, allowing them to grow and learn.
Athletic director and PE teacher Rick Ellis argues that the test enables students who may not be in any particular sport with no previous training to motivate themselves to be healthier in order to be able to pass the test.
“People should be making time in their day to focus on their own physical health. So [the test serves as] motivation to get kids to think about their physical health,” Ellis said.
