Physical education

Physical education (PE) plays a critical role in educating the whole student. Research supports the importance of movement in educating both mind and body. PE contributes directly to development of physical competence and fitness. The benefits of PE can affect both academic learning and physical activity patterns of students. Therefore، the purpose of this study was to describe the status of teaching and conduct of PE course in the first three grades of elementary schools of Iran. The samples of this research included 796 men، 325 women PE teachers’، plus 691 men، and 500 women principals (Superintendent). They were randomly selected from the schools of fifteen different provinces within the five various regions according to their geographical locations. All participants completed researcher designed questionnaires containing questions rating a wide range of contexts for the purpose of evaluating physical education course in elementary schools including the curriculum، the academic degree of teachers، sport equipment and places، finance، community، and school policies and ethos. The result showed that the majority of teachers and principals had diploma or two years college degree; about 70% of teachers were not specialist in physical education. The majority of teachers (25% men and 20% women) had teaching-experience between 1 to 3 years whereas the principals had between 5 to 10 years of experience، respectively. The majority of teacher <50%) were familiar with the behavioral objectives and used them in their lesson plans. Approximately، 40% of the teachers emphasized on fundamental movements and play in their classes. About 58% of them used lesson plan for their teaching. Overall، fewer than 50 of the teacher assigned grade based on fulfillment of behavioral objectives. About 78% of teachers used schoolyards for teaching physical education course. About 27% of the teachers assigned 60% to % 80 of grade for improvement of physical fitness. About 37% of the teachers agreed upon using integrated physical education method for their teaching. According to the findings of the study، it was concluded that the quantitative and qualitative conditions for PE working at the elementary schools are not in a desirable condition، so this convey a warning signal for those in charge of education and training system of the country as well as the students'' parents