Exploring Principals’ Physical Education Perceptions and Views from Elementary and Middle Schools of Shanghai

Abstract

This study examined the status of principals' physical education (PE) perceptions, the differences between gender and school-levels of these principals' PE perceptions; and what they have to say about the opportunities, challenges and solutions on their school PE. Participants were 92 principals (37 Males, 55 Females) from 12 different school districts of Shanghai. The Adapt Principal Perception on PE Questionnaire [superscript Chinese Version] (APPPEQ[superscript C.V.]) was employed for data collection; this questionnaire consists of sixteen items with a 5-points Likert like scale. Key data analyses technich [right arrow] technique was a 2 x 2 (Gender x School-levels) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Findings included: The principals' PE perceptions appear to be very positive evident by scored high on the APPPEQ[superscript C.V.] E.g. Item 5, "Without PE in our school curricula, our students will not be fully developed"; Item 11, "Once PE and daily PA are valued and supported, children will gradually form their active and healthy lifestyle." The MANOVA discovered that: no significant difference in the "Gender" factor; however, significant differences were found in the "School-levels" factor: Elementary-school principals scored higher than middle-school principals in 5 items; e.g. Item 3, "PE is an academic discipline and just as important as English, Math and Sciences to our students." While principals at middle-school scored higher than those of the elementary-school in other 5 items; e.g. Items 14, "Safe environment, necessary facilities and equipment is the key for kids to . . ." The challenges, opportunities and solutions in their school PE do existed and were analyzed and discussed.