Political Cortex: Another case of profiting from the presidency?

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Another case of profiting from the presidency?

By skrashen
10/02/2007 02:10:56 AM EST

Articles in major newspapers in Texas have announced that public schools in Texas must now test all children each year, starting at grade 3, on pushups, sit-ups, and a mile run, and measure flexibility and body fat.

There are problems with this new law.

To get children to pass, PE will, most likely, focus on sit-ups, pushups, and running. This is a threat to the idea that a major goal of PE is to introduce children to a variety of sports to encourage them to become fit for life in enjoyable ways.

We are told that one reason for the PE test is to see if there is a relationship between fitness and academic performance. The way to do this is with scientifically controlled studies using with small groups, not entire populations.

Not mentioned in any of the articles is that the developer of the tool to be used to measure fitness (the Fitnessgram), Kenneth Cooper, has served as personal physician to President Bush, and is known as "Bush's exercise guru." Cooper donated $12,000 to the campaigns of Gov. Perry and State Senator Nelson, the author of the fitness legislation.

According to the Star-Telegram, Fitnessgram cost $230 per school and the total cost will be 2.5 million, but Cooper claims that he will not make any money on the new law: "The Cooper Institute will forgo its $30 royalty per sale, and Cooper has pledged to raise and donate funds to help pay for the program."

So far, the media has shown no interest in finding out whether this is or is not a case of another Friend of Bush profiting from the presidency.

"Students' fitness to be evaluated," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, September 27, 2007.

"Bush's exercise guru": Weekly Standard, May 7, 2001.

: Fitnessgram, Kenneth Cooper, Bush

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Another case of profiting from the presidency? | 10 comments (10 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

misinterpretation (none / 0)

You may have misinterpreted the intent and content of that law. This is different from, for example, the TACS test. SB 530 requires schools to assess a student's fitness using the metrics you mentioned above. It does not mandate a level of fitness in order to pass PE class.

The purpose of the assessment is to gather data about how fitness levels impact academic achievement. Data from the assessment will be rolled up to the state level, where (presumably) it will be used to set public policy.

by billsmith on 10/02/2007 08:46:50 AM EST

Misinterpreted? (none / 0)

Law does not mandate a level of fitness: There may still be motivation to do well on the test, which may influence what goes on in PE class.
Policy: As I said in my post, massive testing is not the way to gather data to influence policy.

by skrashen on 10/02/2007 01:03:35 PM EST

[ Parent ]

: RE: misinterpretation (none / 0)

There's another aspect of SB 530: it mandates minimum amount of PE time. The idea here is that Child Left Behind has motivated school districts to sacrifice PE time in favor of classroom time. With all the concern about childhood obesity rates, the law pushes the pendulum back in the other direction.

by billsmith on 10/02/2007 02:14:21 PM EST

[ Parent ]

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