Abandon Fitness Testing? (Was Medical Evaluation..)

[Guest guest]

>

> This topic may be controvertial, because medical tests and

> evalutation are always recommended by Physical Education Teachers

> (as me) and other fitness and sports professionals. But some

research

> have shown that this evaluations may not be as effective as thought.

***Slight off topic, but:

To test or not to test? Does fitness testing promote physical

activity? (Notes from the British Heart Foundation Conference)

Dr Jo Harries and Dr L Cale:

Despite the media headlines, there is no robust evidence to support

the fact that children are not fit or less fit than in the past.

Neither is there robust evidence that fitness tesing motivates

children to become more active.

Hopple and Graham (1995) inform us that fitness testing is:

*Uncomfortable, demeaning and embarrassing for some children.

*Off putting for the very children who are most at risk (least

active, fit, healthy)

Most secondary schools in the UK include compulsory fitness testing

in Physical Education.

Assumptions: It is often assumed that fitness in young peple is a

primarily reflection of the amount of activity performed and those

who score high on fitness tests are active. This assumption is

inaccurate (Pangrazi, 2000).

Should fitness testing be abandoned in schools?

=================

Carruthers

Wakefield, UK