Abstract:
The grades seven and eight physical education program of the
Norfolk Board of Education was evaluated with respect to fitnesslevel
improvement, an objective of the Ministry of Education for
the province of Ontario. The Canada Fitness Award battery of
fitness tests was used to measure fitness levels.
It was established that in September the students were
unfit, and in May they were fit. This indicated that the Norfolk
physical education program was effective, with respect to the
criterion used for this research.
In addition, it was discovered that fitness-level
improvement was significantly related to certain variables:
teacher qualifications, teaching experience, school, and
participation in extracurricular physical activity.
Considering the results of the research, it was recommended
that the Norfolk Board of Education hire young, qualified
physical education teachers; create the position of Physical
Education Consultant; and strive to create equitable resources
for physical education instruction, in order that the school to
which a student belongs no longer will be a determinant of
fitness improvement.
