Irma Lemus
BURBANK -- Burbank students are in poor physical condition and younger
students are in worse shape than their older counterparts, according to
results from the district's annual fitness exam.
While the news is discouraging, Burbank students are not alone, said
Jon Olin, who coordinates the district's B Fit physical fitness test.
Test results in Burbank mirror those compiled in a statewide evaluation
program, he said.
"Our test reflects a trend of students not being fit," Olin said.
Burbank's test, which is performed each spring is similar to the state
Department of Education's Fitnessgram test, Olin said. However, Burbank
tests third- through- twelfth-grade students while the state evaluates
students in the fifth, seventh and ninth grades.
The district tests students on cardiovascular endurance, strength and
flexibility, Olin said. In general, students in Burbank lack upper body
strength and endurance, he said. Overall Burbank students were strongest
in the trunk and lower body.
Olin said students in worst shape are those in elementary school. They
ranked poorest compared to middle and high school students.
"They don't don't exercise as much as they should. Maybe it's because
they don't do chores -- little things like taking out the trash build up
strength," Olin said.
Many Burbank students were unable to meet recommended standards for
physical fitness, Olin said. For example, a typical fifth grade girl
should be able to run a quarter of a mile in one minute and 56 seconds
and complete eight push ups. A fifth grade boy is expected to run a
quarter mile in one minute and 37 seconds and do at least 15 push ups.
At Walt Disney Elementary School, only three fifth-grade boys out of
18 could do the recommended number of push ups. For girls, it was two out
of 11. At William McKinley Elementary School, nine out of 34 fifth-grade
boys met or exceeded the recommended number of push ups along with 14 out
of 56 girls.
Olin said the students had a hard time completing the exercises
because they don't get enough exercise in their daily lives. The fact
that elementary schools do not have physical education teachers adds to
the problem, he said.
"It doesn't take a lot of strength to click the T.V. remote on," Olin
said.
Caroline Brumm, Burbank district coordinator of student and program
evaluation, said Burbank has conducted its own test for about 8 years.
Burbank has not been required to report its results to the state because
it had its own test.
However, starting next school year, Burbank and every other district
in the state will be required to take part in the state physical fitness
test. The results will be reported to the Department of Education to be
included in a statewide analysis, Brumm said. Burbank will Burbank will
continue to give its own fitness test as well, she said.
