Revived Presidential Fitness Test Sparks Surprising Reactions

When President Donald Trump revealed plans to resurrect the Presidential Fitness Test, the news was met with reactions of dismay from people who experienced the program first-hand during their school years.

“Absolutely not,” was the response from Mike, a resident of Salem, New Hampshire, who participated in our poll about the announcement. “It’s a painful reminder of how damaging this program was in school. It was traumatic and felt like bullying. It left us with no hope.”

Interestingly, most of the respondents in our survey were actually in favor of the test making a comeback. However, those who opposed it felt very strongly against it and were quite vocal, especially on Facebook.

Michele F., from Framingham, described the Presidential Fitness Test as a dreaded event for students who were not naturally athletic or competitive. “The program was bent on identifying the best and the fastest, lauding students for a very narrow set of arguably pointless physical abilities,” she explained.

This critical viewpoint may have contributed to the Obama administration’s decision to replace the test – which included running, situps, pullups or pushups, and a sit-and-reach exercise – with the Youth Fitness Program. This new initiative shifted the focus from recognizing athletic prowess to providing a health barometer for students.

It is still unclear whether these health measures will be included in the re-introduced test, and many of our readers expressed their doubts. Bethany W., for example, questioned on Facebook whether the plan was actually intended to help students get fit, or whether it was simply a way to collect data on schools and students. “What happens to schools that have a high percentage of students who fail the test initially? Will they receive more resources, healthier meals and lunches, and new PE equipment and teachers?” she asked.

Some readers were skeptical about whether these resources would be made available. “Speaking as someone who works in medicine, the test doesn’t accurately reflect someone’s fitness levels,” one respondent wrote. “There are better indicators of fitness and health. If they were truly committed to improving children’s health, they would advocate for free school meals and gun safety.”

Meanwhile, numerous respondents speculated that the president himself would have trouble passing the Presidential Fitness Test. “I’d love to see Trump do a single sit-up. Just one!” commented Michael R. on Facebook. Jacob J., from Marblehead, was of the opinion that Trump wouldn’t even be able to pass the test if he were given half the answers. William C. added that given Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s involvement in administering the new test, it might include a measure of “How quickly can you remove the head from a deceased bear cub?”

However, there were those who considered the move to be a positive one. “Who could possibly think it’s a bad idea to encourage physical fitness and activity?” queried Mike from the North End. And Dan N. on Facebook observed, “We had this in elementary and junior high school. It was fun to tease the kids who couldn’t complete it. It motivated them to get in shape.”

“Or spend years in therapy,” rebutted Steve M.

You can see some of the responses from readers below.

Responses have been shortened and clarified for clarity.

In Favor of the Test

“Physical fitness is crucial for all ages, and should be emphasized, particularly in the era of smartphones. Giving kids a good foundation and understanding of fitness at a young age will benefit them for the rest of their lives. I hope that the importance of good nutrition and how it complements exercise is also emphasized.” — Mike, Brighton

“A test is neither a punishment nor a reward — it should create a goal to pass the fitness test and potentially excel with your peers. I’m all for it, unless Trump renames it the Trump Presidential Fitness Test and uses garish gold lettering on the certificate. Why shouldn’t we provide our children with guidance at an early age? If people neglect their health, they will become a burden to society.” — Mike, Seacoast NH

“Too many kids eat junk food and spend the whole day in front of the computer. We need to bring this back.” — Anonymous

“I can’t stand Trump, but promoting physical health among children is extremely important, especially considering they are the first generation in a long time expected to have a shorter lifespan, despite having access to significant technological advancements for major medical breakthroughs in the upcoming decades. They need more exercise, as poor physical health can also impact mental health.” — John, Wilbraham

“America is obese. Anything that could possibly help with this issue should be welcomed.” — Bob S., Boston

“As a retired P.E. teacher, the test provides a lot of valuable information. Let’s face it, kids today do NOT get as much physical activity as previous generations.” — Russ H. via Facebook

“I honestly think that it is great that he is trying to promote physical activity and exercise among young people. However, the fine and performing arts are just as important and he will never put forth anything near the same amount of effort to support that cause.” — Alex J. via Facebook

Against the Test

“It can have a negative impact on the self-esteem of late bloomers.” — Peter B., Mattapoisett

“It’s ironic that this administration is excitedly cutting school lunch programs and child nutrition programs while promoting an outdated fitness test. It’s naïve and disingenuous to believe that the current administration is committed to children’s health and fitness.” — Michele F., Framingham

“Number 1: the golden ballroom at the White House; Number 2: the presidential fitness test; Number 3: the Epstein files. We want Number 3.” — Mary M. via Facebook

“I’m not particularly interested in the test part, but I do believe that all students from K-12 should be doing exercise every day, with goals that they can achieve at their own pace. Not everyone is able to exercise in the same way or speed. It’s not a test, it’s a learning experience for the body.” — Connie M. via Facebook

“In all seriousness, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if this wasn’t just another grand pronouncement with no implementation plan to back it up. Kids don’t just become instantly fit; the schools need the resources to incorporate it into the overall curriculum. I seriously doubt there is a federal plan to back it up.” — Mich S. via Facebook

Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinions.