Physical education in America has long faced criticism from students for a myriad of reasons, some arguing that it is too easy, fails to group participants by skill level and lacks real-world fitness preparation, while others assert that it is not necessary to begin with. These concerns are echoed throughout the entire education system of the United States, with action coming to fruition in the form of a revamped physical education program and a brand new suite of fitness tests targeted towards students.
Since taking office in 2025, President Donald Trump has issued a series of sweeping executive orders aimed at reshaping the country, with one of the most notable changes targeting the national education system. As part of this initiative, new fitness standards are being introduced for students across America, with Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. reviving the long dormant La Sierra Program. Originally implemented under President John F. Kennedy, the rigorous Cold War era 1960’s fitness regiment was designed to build a stronger, more capable generation of high schoolers in lieu of fears that American youth were falling behind in physical capability. It emphasized intense daily exercise, including calisthenics, long-distance running, sprints and swimming in an effort to push students to peak physical fitness.
President Trump has cited historical precedent regarding the infamous and controversial “Soft American” speech given by JFK, in which Kennedy stated that “the harsh fact of the matter is that there is also an increasingly large number of young Americans who are neglecting their bodies— whose physical fitness is not what it should be—who are getting soft…such softness on the part of individual citizens can help to strip and destroy the vitality of a nation.” Robert Kennedy jr. has since emphasized the importance of holding Americans to a higher standard of physical prowess as a part of maintaining a competitive edge on US China relations.
The La Sierra program will include 45 minutes of daily intense exercise with the goal of boosting student strength and fitness to the level of completing multiple consecutive pull ups, pushups, one arm pushups, handstand pushups and behind the back clapping push ups. All of these exercises and many more will be tested as a graduation requirement. Many students are already preparing for next year’s fitness tests, as passing is mandatory and retakes are not an option. Students have already begun scrambling to prepare, most are simply hoping for divine intervention. A sudden spike in gym memberships has been reported, and YouTube tutorials titled “How to get abs in 6 minutes” are trending among high schoolers. Meanwhile, a black market for fitness “stand-ins” has allegedly formed, where particularly athletic students are offering their services to less physically inclined classmates for a hefty fee, of course.
Gym class has also taken a dramatic turn. Dodgeball has been replaced with full-contact sprints, yoga mats have been traded for military-grade sandbags, and any student caught walking the mile instead of running is immediately written up for a referral. Teachers have wasted no time cracking down, reportedly patrolling the hallways with a whistle and clipboard, ready to enforce impromptu fitness tests between classes. Some students claim to have seen teachers timing kids as they run to the bathroom, though these reports remain unconfirmed.
While school officials assure students that this program will “build character” and “prepare them for the real world,” many remain skeptical. Concerns have been raised about what happens to those who don’t pass, with rumors swirling that failing seniors will be required to complete summer boot camp before receiving their diplomas. As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the era of barely breaking a sweat in gym class is long gone.