The elementary, elementary/middle, and middle school physical education environment.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if the conditions of the elementary, elementary/middle and middle school physical education settings of selected North Alabama public schools were consistent with the guidelines and recommendations of the 1989 Alabama State Course of Study and the 1985 National Facilities Conference Minimum Teaching Station Standard Formula. One hundred and twenty-three physical education teachers and 29 physical education paraprofessionals in 60 systematically sampled elementary, elementary/middle, and middle public schools throughout North Alabama were surveyed. A panel of experts validated the instrument, followed by a pilot study. Surveys were hand-delivered, resulting in a 100% response.

The conditions investigated in this study were the average number of participants per class meeting and per day in physical education classes in the selected schools for comparison with the guidelines and recommendations of the Alabama State Course of Study, the average number of sections of classes reporting to a physical education teacher each period in the selected schools for comparison with the guidelines and recommendations, and the average number of teaching stations available in the selected schools for comparison with the guidelines of the National Facilities Conference. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine the training opportunities provided for physical education paraprofessionals and the training opportunities desired by physical education paraprofessionals. Numerical results from the survey were statistically analyzed and compared to the recommendations and standards, utilizing the simple t-test.

The quantitative analysis of the data indicated that the number of students taught by physical education teachers each day differed significantly from the Alabama State Course of Study recommendation. Physical education teachers were also assigned more sections of classes than recommended. There was no significant statistical difference between the total number of teaching stations available for the conduction of physical education class and the recommendation established by the National Facilities Conference. The findings from the investigation also revealed that physical education paraprofessionals received inadequate orientation, inservice, and on-the-job training opportunities. The majority of subjects indicated a desire to receive various training opportunities prior to beginning a new job and throughout the school year. Conclusions and recommendations were made based on information acquired from the administration of this study.