Student attitudes toward teacher behaviour and program content within physical education

The purpose of this study was to assess student attitudes toward teacher behaviour and program content within physical education in grades 3, 7, and 10. Prior to examining the data, five hypotheses were generated. It was hypothesized that: 1. Student attitudes toward teacher behaviour within physical education are different in grade 3, grade 7, and grade 10. 2. Student attitudes toward program content within physical education are different in grade 3, grade 7, and grade 10. 3. Male and female attitudes toward teacher behaviour within physical education are different from each other at each grade level. 4. Male and female attitudes toward program content within physical education are different from each other at each grade level. 5. Those students who like their physical education classes have different attitudes toward teacher behaviour from those students who do not like their physical education classes. 6. Those students who like their physical education classes have different attitudes toward program content from those students who do not like their physical education classes. A thirty statement questionnaire was developed for use in the study. Fifteen statements pertained to teacher behaviour, fourteen statements pertained to program content, and one statement asked students whether they liked their physical education classes. Five grade 3 classes, five grade 7 classes, and five grade 10 classes were randomly selected to partake in the study. The data involving grades were analyzed using a one way analysis of variance. The data involving gender and preference for physical education classes were analyzed using a t-test. Results indicated that a positive attitude existed toward teacher behaviour and program content by males and females in each of the grades. However, it was found that there was a significant difference in student attitudes toward teacher behaviour and program content in grades 3, 7, and 10. Furthermore, no significant difference was found in male and female attitudes toward teacher behaviour in grade 3 or grade 10, although, there was a significant difference in male and female attitudes toward teacher behaviour in grade 7. No significant difference was found in males' and females' attitudes towards program content in grade 3, 7, and 10. A significant differencewas found between students who liked their physical education classes and those who did not like their physical education classes for both teacher behaviour and program content. Recommendations for future research suggest that the survey instrument be limited to statements on either teacher behaviour or program content. It is also recommended that a larger sample size be used and that students of both physical education specialists and non-specialists be compared. It appears that more research is also needed to determine why grade 7 student attitudes are not as positive as those of grade 3 or grade 10 students. Finally, future research could look at physically fit and/or highly skilled students in relation to poorly fit and/or low skilled students to determine the effect these factors may have on student attitudes toward physical education.Education, Faculty ofCurriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department ofGraduat