Sociological Approach Regarding the Middle School Age Children's Perception of the Role Played by Physical Education in School

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this research is to argue the necessity for a new methodological orientation regarding the pupils’ formative activity, by knowing the middle school age child's perception of the role played by Physical Education. The research hypothesis was constructed from the assumption that the knowledge of the pupils’ perception of the importance of Physical Education and Sports, the knowledge of their attitudes, motivations and interests toward this discipline, can constitute a starting point for an intervention aimed to improve the act of teaching. The research consisted in applying a psycho-social questionnaire that had in view the study of the pupils’ attitude to and interest in Physical Education conducted in school as part of the curriculum, and outside of school, thus identifying the perception in a school population of the role played by this discipline. The questionnaire, comprising 15 questions with single and multiple choice-type answers, was applied to 150 middle school age pupils from 3 Bacau schools, during the academic year 2011-2012. The data gathered from the subjects have revealed important information regarding the importance of, and the role played by, the motor activities organized as part of the curriculum and outside of it in middle school education, based on which one can form an applicative intervention to improve the education process to meet the European education demands. The analysis of the recorded answers shows the effects of the lesson contents on the pupils’ aptitudes and attitudes, as well as the pupils’ opinions on the development and organization of the Physical Education lessons, the pupils’ behaviour during extracurricular activities, and their desires, options, and aspirations in regards to Physical and Sport Education.