Guidelines for the improvement of physical education in selected public elementary schools of New Jersey

Abstract The study drew upon the professional literature to develop criteria for evaluating the program in elementary school physical education. The five areas of philosophy, personnel, curriculum, activities beyond the in-class program, as well as time, space, equipment, and facilities, were used to construct a checklist for surveying programs in 450 selected school districts. The 13 school districts which fulfilled the criteria most fully and the 13 which fulfilled the criteria least fully were located. All 26 districts were visited. Guidelines for improving programs were developed from a study of the critical differences between the districts. Varied programs existed for physical education in elementary schools in New Jersey. They ranged from free-play recess to a formal program, taught by a special teacher in a gymnasium. The findings from the survey and the differences between the two groups of school districts were charted and treated statistically.