1961- the year I was born
1961 – the year of President John F Kennedy’s presidential campaign
One of his “projects” was the US Physical Fitness Program
” The need for increased attention to physical fitness is clearly established.” The Government cannot compel us to act, but freedom demands it. A nation is merely the sum of all its citizens, and its strength, energy, and resourcefulness can be no greater than theirs. – John F. Kennedy
As promised last week in my retrofit post, the idea originally brought up by Roy and Dr. J was to bring this idea back to our youth. With the state of our economy and its impact on our public school budgets, it is unfortunate that physical fitness is being cut more and more. I was reminded of it again last week when there was a short discussion on Twitter about “old school” games like dodgeball, kickball, and tetherball.
When I talk to Little Princess, they have physical education once a week where they run around the grass area of the school, and recess is about the “monkey bars” or sitting on a bench drawing.
How can we promote the importance of fitness when the focus is grades and academic achievement? And school nutrition where pizza is considered a vegetable…even little princess knows better than that!
I have been doing a lot of research back through the archives of the JFK Presidential Library and Museum HERE, and one of the campaign posters that we, as a general population, have lived up to is this:
His infamous article about the “Soft American” in Sports Illustrated
rings true even more these days
and honestly, our country hasn’t changed much in 50 years
and
If we don’t start to change it now, what will THAT look like in another 50 years?
While I don’t think the campaign theme song will be resurrected
I think that the focus back to the Fitness Challenge can be.
Its components are
aerobic capacity, muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility
Roy has graciously agreed to help me out with this and there will be more coming
I, for one, am going to do my part
to
Celebrate the Past to Awaken the Future
What about you?
If you can believe, I remember this year because of the changes in my Catholic school program. I remember the 50 mile walk – not that I did it. What did change was an exercise program in my school. Off we tromped to the public park next door in our blue workout bloomers to begin a physical program of calisthenics. Man, was I out of shape! This year brought a consciousness to me: caring from my body more so. Although I’ve struggled all my life with weight control, I continue to enjoy physical activities. Thank you, President Kennedy.
I remember it too!! Being tested and having it recorded. And of course, being the “chubby” kid didn’t help. But I remember the “presidential” part, and feeling impressed that somehow we were doing something special. Wish it had stuck. :-}
I don’t have kids but also think some of it must come from parents acting as good role models… being active and healthy. I grew up playing a lot of sport and doing a lot of outside stuff with my parents (it was only later in life my fitness went downhill!). I have some friends who do no exercise and can’t help but wonder if their kids grow up thinking that’s the norm.
Deb