Physical Education situation in Marijampolės schools: teachers' attitudes

Object - the state of physical education at secondary schools in Marijampole from teachers’ standpoint. Aim - investigate the state of physical education at secondary schools in Marijampole from teachers’ standpoint. Objectives: 1. Determine the view of physical education teachers on the curriculum of physical education and on the assessment of pupils’ progress and achievements at physical education lessons. 2. Determine the attitude of physical education teachers towards the gender equality, physically weaker pupils, teaching tools and equipment at physical education lessons. 3. Determine the status of physical education and physical education teachers at secondary schools in Marijampole. 4. Reveal the view of physical education teachers on the alternative physical education. Findings: 1. In Marijampole, teachers of physical education prioritise team games, athletics, and gymnastics. Chess and checkers are used as alternative activities at physical education lessons. The most common assessment method is grading. 2. At secondary schools in Marijampole, suitable conditions for weaker pupils are not usually ensured, gender equality is not considered. Furthermore, the amount of satisfactory quality tools and equipment to use at physical education lesson is not sufficient or vice versa. The issues related to the maintenance of such equipment are unresolved. 3. In Marijampole, the status of the physical education subject and the status of its teachers are both thought to be equal to the status of any other subject and its teachers. 4. In Marijampole, physical education teachers are keen to promote informal physical education. Pupils are encouraged to attend such activities by good marks and certificates of merit. Recommendations and suggestions: 1. The curriculum of physical education should include more theory aspects, i.e. pupils should be informed about the importance of physical education. 2. Make someone (for example, groundskeeper) responsible for the maintenance of tools and equipment used in physical education lessons. However, this responsibility cannot be assigned to the physical education teachers who should focus their attention on pupils. 3. Due to the inherent difference between the genders, it is recommended to organise completely separate physical education lessons for girls and boys. If this is not possible, girls and boys should be given different tasks and exercises to do