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Urban School Urban School Physical Education Physical Education

Directors Perceptions of Directors Perceptions of Physical EducationPhysical Education

Howard ZengHoward Zeng11, Wenhao Liu, Wenhao Liu22 & Michael Hipscher & Michael Hipscher11

11Brooklyn College, CUNY, Brooklyn, NY.Brooklyn College, CUNY, Brooklyn, NY.

22Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA.Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA.

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Introduction and BackgroundIntroduction and Background For over two decades, For over two decades,

researchers have realized researchers have realized and emphasized that and emphasized that physical education (PE) physical education (PE) plays a vital role in our plays a vital role in our school educationschool education ((Sallis, & Sallis, & McKenzie, 1991; Sallis, McKenzie, McKenzie, 1991; Sallis, McKenzie, & Alcaraz, 1993; U.S. DHHS, & Alcaraz, 1993; U.S. DHHS, 2004; Zoeller, 2007). 2004; Zoeller, 2007).

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Introduction and Background Introduction and Background (cont. 1)(cont. 1)

Participation in regular Participation in regular physical activity (PA) physical activity (PA) effectively reduces the risk of effectively reduces the risk of premature mortality, coronary premature mortality, coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetescolon cancer, and diabetes (Coakley, 2004; Warburton, (Coakley, 2004; Warburton, Nicol, & Bredin, 2006; Zoeller, Nicol, & Bredin, 2006; Zoeller, 2007).2007).

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Introduction and Background Introduction and Background (cont. 2)(cont. 2)

Physical education plays such important role in Physical education plays such important role in our society as health costs are at all time high our society as health costs are at all time high and people are living longer. and people are living longer.

Recently research reveals that physical Recently research reveals that physical inactivity and obesity remain more stable than inactivity and obesity remain more stable than physical activity from childhood to adulthood physical activity from childhood to adulthood (Anderssen, Wold, & Torsheim, 2005; Janz, Burns, & (Anderssen, Wold, & Torsheim, 2005; Janz, Burns, & Levy, 2005; Matton et al., 2005; Raitakari, Juonala, & Levy, 2005; Matton et al., 2005; Raitakari, Juonala, & Viikari, 2005; Yang et al., 2007). Viikari, 2005; Yang et al., 2007).

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Introduction and Background Introduction and Background (cont. 3)(cont. 3)

That is, compared with physically active lifestyles That is, compared with physically active lifestyles during childhood, sedentary lifestyles adopted during childhood, sedentary lifestyles adopted early in life tend to track into adulthood at a early in life tend to track into adulthood at a higher rate. higher rate.

The finding helps explain the well known facts The finding helps explain the well known facts that physical activity levels decline from that physical activity levels decline from childhood to adulthood and that more than half childhood to adulthood and that more than half (54.1%) of adults do not engage in physical (54.1%) of adults do not engage in physical activity at the minimum recommended level activity at the minimum recommended level (Center (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2005). for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2005).

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Introduction and Background Introduction and Background (cont. 4)(cont. 4)

As a result, the goal of public health is to get As a result, the goal of public health is to get physically active children remain physically active physically active children remain physically active through adulthood and, more importantly, to get through adulthood and, more importantly, to get sedentary children “untracked” and become sedentary children “untracked” and become physically active physically active (Corbin, 2001; Malina, 2001b).(Corbin, 2001; Malina, 2001b).

In fact, the promotion of lifelong physical activity In fact, the promotion of lifelong physical activity participation has been recognized as the ultimate goal participation has been recognized as the ultimate goal of school physical education programs of school physical education programs (Rink, 2006),(Rink, 2006), and physical activity ranks top in the ten Leading and physical activity ranks top in the ten Leading Health Indicators Health Indicators (USDHHS, 2000).(USDHHS, 2000).

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Introduction and Background Introduction and Background (cont. 5)(cont. 5)

More ideas and suggestions have been More ideas and suggestions have been made by the researchers such as: made by the researchers such as:

1.1. using interdisciplinary instructive approach using interdisciplinary instructive approach incorporates literacy, math, geography and science into incorporates literacy, math, geography and science into PE lessons, PE lessons,

2.2. developing a science-base curriculum; developing a science-base curriculum; 3.3. applying different technology to provide visual, applying different technology to provide visual,

kinesthetic and auditory stimuli in daily lessons; and kinesthetic and auditory stimuli in daily lessons; and 4.4. using various teaching strategies to meet the needs of using various teaching strategies to meet the needs of

diverse learners diverse learners (Graham, Holt/Hale, & Parker, 2005; Pangrazi, 2007). (Graham, Holt/Hale, & Parker, 2005; Pangrazi, 2007).

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Introduction and Background Introduction and Background (cont. 6)(cont. 6)

However, no matter how the researchers, However, no matter how the researchers, educators and media describe and discuss the educators and media describe and discuss the issues and solutions about school PE, the issues and solutions about school PE, the bottom line is, the director of PE programs are bottom line is, the director of PE programs are the key figures to make decisions on how PE the key figures to make decisions on how PE will be operated in their schools. will be operated in their schools.

In school reform discussion, the role of director In school reform discussion, the role of director of PE programs have consistently identified as of PE programs have consistently identified as a critical contributing factor to school PE a critical contributing factor to school PE effectiveness and to reform implementation effectiveness and to reform implementation success success (Fullan, 2001; Graham, Holt/Hale, & Parker, 2008; (Fullan, 2001; Graham, Holt/Hale, & Parker, 2008; Pangrazi, 2007 ).Pangrazi, 2007 ).

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PurposePurpose

While many studies have been While many studies have been done to investigate Issues or done to investigate Issues or problems and solutions problems and solutions regarding school PE programs, regarding school PE programs, few studies, if any, have tried few studies, if any, have tried to understand urban school PE to understand urban school PE from the perspectives of PE from the perspectives of PE program directors (PEPD). program directors (PEPD).

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Purpose Purpose (Cont.)(Cont.)

This study was intended to investigate PEPD's This study was intended to investigate PEPD's perceptions of urban school PE programs so perceptions of urban school PE programs so that more comprehensive understanding of PE that more comprehensive understanding of PE programs might be ascertained.programs might be ascertained.

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MethodsMethods Participants in this study were 17 PEPD from a Participants in this study were 17 PEPD from a

large city in the US (5 from elementary large city in the US (5 from elementary schools, 12 from secondary schools) with a schools, 12 from secondary schools) with a minimum of two-year experience in the PEPD minimum of two-year experience in the PEPD position. position.

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Methods Methods (Cont. 1)(Cont. 1)

The ‘Elite’ interview The ‘Elite’ interview (Hertz & Imber, 1995) (Hertz & Imber, 1995) was used with semi was used with semi structured questions structured questions regarding concerns, regarding concerns, problems, and solutions problems, and solutions for urban PE programs. for urban PE programs.

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Methods Methods (Cont. 2)(Cont. 2)

All interviews were All interviews were audiotape and transcribed audiotape and transcribed and a detailed audit trail and a detailed audit trail was used for establishing was used for establishing trustworthiness. Constant trustworthiness. Constant comparison technique comparison technique (Patton, 2002) was used for (Patton, 2002) was used for data analysis. data analysis.

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Analysis/ResultsAnalysis/Results Three major themes were revealed. Three major themes were revealed. First, the importance of PE programs in urban First, the importance of PE programs in urban

school districts was confirmed. The PE school districts was confirmed. The PE programs played an important role in programs played an important role in providing a big portion of daily physical providing a big portion of daily physical activity amount for urban kids and in activity amount for urban kids and in developing healthy, whole persons, and was an developing healthy, whole persons, and was an integral part of the urban education system. integral part of the urban education system.

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Analysis/Results Analysis/Results (cont. 1)(cont. 1)

Second, the major problems Second, the major problems with the urban school PE with the urban school PE programs were the lack of programs were the lack of administrative support, administrative support, shortage of facilities and shortage of facilities and equipment, apathetic and equipment, apathetic and unqualified PE teachers, unqualified PE teachers, oversize classes, and lack of oversize classes, and lack of students’ motivation. students’ motivation.

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Analysis/Results Analysis/Results (cont. 2)(cont. 2)

In addition, a higher In addition, a higher prevalence of obesity prevalence of obesity among urban school among urban school kids than those in rural kids than those in rural and suburban areas is a and suburban areas is a serious concern. serious concern.

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Analysis/Results Analysis/Results (cont. 3)(cont. 3)

Third, the urban school Third, the urban school PEPD recommend the PEPD recommend the following solutions to following solutions to solving the problems: solving the problems: writing grants and writing grants and raising funds for raising funds for updating PE equipment updating PE equipment and facilities; using and facilities; using community resources community resources to implement PE to implement PE programs; programs;

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Analysis/Results Analysis/Results (cont. 4)(cont. 4)

seeking parental seeking parental involvement and political involvement and political support; building new support; building new schools; requiring more schools; requiring more PE days/weeks; PE days/weeks; increasing the salaries of increasing the salaries of PE teachers; raising the PE teachers; raising the bar for accreditation, and bar for accreditation, and hiring of new certified hiring of new certified PE teachers. PE teachers.

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ConclusionsConclusions Perceptions of the PEPD on urban school PE Perceptions of the PEPD on urban school PE

reflect problems that urban school PE faces. reflect problems that urban school PE faces. Whereas the problems are comprehensive, the Whereas the problems are comprehensive, the urban PEPD recognize the important roles that urban PEPD recognize the important roles that PE plays and are clear regarding the ways to PE plays and are clear regarding the ways to solve those problems. solve those problems.

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Conclusions (cont.)Conclusions (cont.) However, to reform the quality of urban school However, to reform the quality of urban school

PE is beyond the current capabilities of PEPD. PE is beyond the current capabilities of PEPD. Given the higher prevalence of obesity among Given the higher prevalence of obesity among urban school districts, decision makers at urban school districts, decision makers at higher levels should take steps to solve higher levels should take steps to solve problems that urban PE programs face.problems that urban PE programs face.

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