Alright
So I was reading a blog post last night about a school in Massachusetts who in an effort to improve the health of youngsters in their town were going to take a Body Mass Index score and put it on a kids report card to be sent home. Not a bad idea in my opinion even though the Body Mass Index is a steaming pile of crap but hey at least they are trying.

What I hadn’t expected was the backlash on that post from fellow fitness professionals on how it’s not the schools business and it’s going to give the kids a poor self image and we it’s just judging them and a whole lot of other crap. Have we ALL gotten soft here? It appears we are.

One thing that I am sick of is all this touchy feely Oprah type training. Now I know people think I am one of those types that call my clients maggots and what not but I’m not. I’m actually not harsh at all and half the time my clients are laughing all the way through the session because I have a somewhat unique sense of humor. My job is to get them in better physical condition not to berate them, I make them laugh because it makes both of our experiences better. Having said that I won’t tell them their farts don’t stink either. That is essentially what my “fellow fitness pro’s” are doing with their statements.

Let’s take a look real quick at what a report card does. Math, English, History, Science and a couple others have a grading system. If one of those has lower grades then the parents are notified that there is a problem that needs to be addressed so that children can improve. The purpose of the report card is to put a problem out on the surface because the first step to solving a problem is realizing you have a problem.

So how exactly is including a Body Mass Index any different then saying what their grade in any of the tested subjects is? Does getting a poor grade in math equate to the board of Ed calling the kid stupid? So why would including their BMI whether it’s good or bad be like calling them fat? It is meant to let the parents know that there is a problem and it needs to be addressed.

Now personally I think the intentions are in the right place but it is misguided. Body Mass Index only does your height compared to your weight according to the general population. It is extremely inaccurate. What I suggest is a performance based test. Time the mile, do pushups or pullups (if kids haven’t gotten so out of shape that they can’t do it), time a bean bag sprint and test hamstring flexibility. They did that when I was a kid and the Governator was in charge.

Oh yeah and don’t give them anything for participation. It does nothing for a kids self esteem because they can see right through that. When a kid does accomplish something physical and they get a patch then yes it will do wonders for their self confidence.

As for it not being the schools business. The child’s welfare IS the school’s business. Parents…you don’t like it when you are wrong? Deal with it.

So what do you think? Do you agree with me or disagree? Why?

Related posts:

1. Should I?
2. if you can't trust the government who can you trust?
3. Jamie Oliver and why children can't be held accountable.
4. Doing what you have to do
5. This is something that pisses me off