3 million TX Students Can't Be Wrong

Recently the results of the Texas Youth Fitness Study was announced. It provided an in-depth analysis and evaluation of data collected through state-mandated health-related fitness testing of all public school children in Texas, from grades 3 through 12. James Martin and Scott Morrow from the University of North Texas co-authored the document and presents key findings and issues associated with fitness in Texas.

Key points include:

• Higher physical fitness test achievement is related to higher state academic test scores and higher attendance, fewer negative school incidents and overall school quality, as indicated by the state ranking system (exemplary, recognized, acceptable, or unacceptable);
• Teachers work hard to conduct important and quality testing and do a good job of testing despite often challenging school settings;
• Teachers share their positive and negative experiences and provide ways to improve testing in challenging school settings and for large-scale testing across a state;
• Reliability and validity of large-scale testing is good; and suggestions for testing in challenging school settings and in large-scale testing for regional, state, and national settings are provided.

The study funded by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation was coordinated by the Cooper Institute. The study's focused on the relation between fitness test achievement and academic achievement; the reliability and validity of fitness testing with large samples; teacher interviews regarding large-scale fitness testing; psychosocial variables related to cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index, and school and teacher characteristics associated with fitness test achievement.

Clearly, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and any doubts about the impact of physical activity on academic performance can be put to bed. Student behavior modification as a result of physical activity was an interesting component. Obviously, healthy students as a whole perform better and behave better. If 3 million Texas students can't be wrong, why are physical education not a bigger part of every school, every day?
Michael Cordier