California students would stop taking a mandatory physical fitness test under a proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom intended to protect children from body shaming, bullying and gender identity discrimination.
State law requires California schools to give all fifth, seventh and ninth graders a test that measures everything from aerobic capacity to flexibility and upper body strength. But starting next year, schools would drop the physical education exam until at least 2023.
During a three-year suspension of the test, the California Department of Education would consult with experts in fitness, adaptive physical education, gender identity and students with disabilities regarding “the purpose and administration of the physical performance test,” according to a proposal in budget-related bill language quietly released late last week.
H.D. Palmer, spokesperson for Newsom’s Department of Finance, said the move comes after complaints from parents that the test is discriminatory to students with disabilities and to non-binary students, since it includes a Body Mass Index screening that offers only male or female options.
Palmer also pointed to studies that show BMI screenings play a role in body shaming and bullying…
The above comes from a Feb. 3 story posted on Politico.
Kudos to Gov. Newsom for making a start, but all tests whatsoever should be suspended to protect children from grammar shaming, algebra and geography discrimination. We want children to feel cozy and warm to prepare them for life!
Stop attendance shaming too. Make school completely optional.
Yup! The imbecility level our society has risen to almost makes the coronavirus a welcome cure for our species.
Ridiculous! Don’t end physical education and health/nutrition programs– they are badly needed! Instead– put an end to Bad Behavior and Bullying!
In good P.E. and health/nutrition
programs, suited to their needs– just think what students with disabilities, illnesses, or difficult health/mental health issues (including “non-binary,” LGBTs) could proudly achieve for themselves!
Students suffering from gender confusion need to look realistically at their bodies! Their Male or Female body is as it is! — stop pretending it is “wrong,” and must magically change into what it was never made to be! The poor body they reject, falls into certain well-established scientific and medical criteria– “non-binary” has no scientific existence or validity! The measurements and goals for a P.E. student are not meant to “shame” anyone– they are just objective facts, to realistically work with!
Same thing, in a weight-control program– they take measurements, and will establish certain goals for you. But let’s say you go to Weight Watchers– you don’t want to feel “shamed” for your weekly weight losses– or gains!– and they are supposed to be objective, helpful, and supportive of each member!
Oh– what if a transgender student really did undergo surgery and hormone therapies (etc.) for a gender switch?? Not medically possible, a total gender change! So– what medical procedures do doctors follow, for these new, medically-engineered transgendered people?? How are they dealt with, medically, for measurements, evaluations, lab tests, exams, yearly physicals, etc.?? (Personally– I think these procedures are dangerous, and should be outlawed! Especially for children and teens!)
How do doctors deal with medically- transgendered patients, who have had surgeries, hormone treatments, etc.?? A complete gender change is impossible! How do doctors handle medical evaluations, lab tests, physical exams, work-related exams, etc.?? I think these “gender transitions” are dangerous, and should be outlawed, especially for kids!
Did you know– kids and adults also can get “shamed” and made to feel bad, by jealous bullies— for working hard, and ending up with outstanding achievements?? You can’t win! Instead of cancelling classes– bullies need to be sternly punished and controlled, by the teacher! Good Manners must be a strong requirement, in our society!
It should not be long that public schools will be shut down. What do we need them for?
So….cut out physical education to stop body shaming? The Dictator of California is overstepping….children need to get off their iPads, video games, etc and go out and play!!!! And the underlying issue, the transgender, binary, whatever you want to call it….????? Stupid, absolutely stupid!!! Let kids be kids, make them go outside and play, and quit pandering to the left!!! Geez…..let’s get back to the values our grandparents had!!!!!
There a not cancelling PE class. They are cancelling the fitness test for 3 years while they re-evaluate. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/index.asp
I wish they had been cancelled when I was in school.
Next on Gavin’s ultra-lib agenda will be the bullying doctors who advise their fat patients to drop some pounds. Just wait.
Anonymous, you are right– Gov.
Newsom only wants to cancel the fitness test for three years! However, as many health experts have worried about the disastrous results of things like childhood obesity– there ought to be some kind of p.e. fitness evaluations and measurements– and plenty of help for these kids, especially while they are still so young! Maybe the curriculums need to be re-designed!
Anon-every kid in the PE class knows the fitness level of the other kids. So do their teachers. I think Anne TE said once that in school she was not bullied because she was an athlete. Physical education should involve health wellness, fitness and recreation.
I think it was in a comment on this website that someone said, “wellness is a necessity, fitness is a luxury”. I think it was meant in terms of the fitness culture of adults. I’m glad they are re-evaluating things. I pray that their decisions will be guided by the Lord to benefit the children now and throughout their lives.
Like I’ve always said, the only thing worse than a Democrat is a liberal Catholic.