EMPIRICAL REVIEW OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

This paper emphasizes the important place that physical education and sport have in the system of education, as well as the significance of health, physical and functional abilities and interests for physical activities. This research examines the attitudes of secondary schoolchildren towards sport and physical activities. The research is focused on three basic goals: 1. Theoretical, which analyzes the relevant reference materials with the purpose of recognizing theoretical and methodological aspects related to the study of the importance of sport and physical activities among young people; 2. Cognitive, which examines the schoolchildren’s attitudes towards sport and physical activities; 3. Applicable, which means that this research is expected to contribute to the increase of the secondary schoolchildren’s awareness of the importance of sport and physical activities. The methods used are descriptive and the Likert-type scale (SASS-FAS) containing 28 items. The research was conducted with the sample of 1013 secondary schoolchildren on the territory of the Nišava District. The obtained results show that schoolchildren have positive attitudes towards physical education and sport. However, their responses prove that they spend their free time doing some other, non-physical activities. The secondary schoolchildren’s responses are characterized by a high level of consistency with no statistically significant difference evident regarding the school grade they attend, p>0.05.