Accountability in Physical Education: The Effectiveness of the Elementary Physical Education Specialist.

N

32

Athletic Coaches; Athletics; Exercise (Physiology); Physical Characteristics; Physical Education; Physical Fitness; Specialists; Test Results

A total of 360 boys and girls from first through sixth grade were randomly selected and tested with an instrument developed in the Tacoma Public Schools to determine: (1) differences in physical skills and fitness performances of pupils who received the services of an elementary physical education specialist and pupils who had not; and (2) differences in physical skills and fitness performance between boys and girls. An attitudinal comparison also was made between teachers working regularly with an elementary physical education specialist and those who were not. The study found that, where differences existed, pupils who received the services of a specialist demonstrated superior performances to those who had not. In addition, pupils who had not received the services required more demonstrations of a skill before they could attempt it. Boys proved superior in jumping, running, throwing, and rope climbing skills; girls, at rope skipping. But on the whole there were very few systematic differences between them. But the study also found that teachers who worked regularly with an elementary physical education specialist rated physical education as having greater importance. (Appropriate tables are included.) (Author/JA)

1973

ED076553