PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL
This review of the literature regarding physical education in the middle school will include the following relevant topics: pre adolescent diversity, curriculum evaluation, pedagogic content, the case study example, and the hidden curriculum.
The middle school, developed around 30 years ago, was designed for the young adolescent, who was not ready for the impersonal climate found in the high school environment. The nature of this situation comes with difficulties that are yet to be resolved. Placek (1992) visited four middle schools and found that teachers and principles are still searching and struggling to overcome the problems related to physical education in the middle school. At a national secondary physical education conference, the audience responded to a question regarding the type of curriculum needed for this age group, with a majority vote for needs for sport skills (66%); less frequently mentioned activities included health-related (over 50%) and cooperation (38%). A search of the literature revealed a focus on activity selection and organization, and literature on middle schools tended to focus on structure rather than curriculum reforms. However, the author concludes that some middle school literature has made the point that this environment must be student-centered rather than subject-centered and it must meet the needs of a rapidly changing student. The traditional curriculum, based on subject matter, does not meet these needs. It is recommended that this change in focus must begin immediately (pp. 330-339).
The middle school represents an age group, called pre or early adolescents, that are experiencing many changes in their physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development, more so than at any other time in their schooling. These children may be the same age chronologically, however, they are all at their own unique stage of development, exploring n...