Book Description

Negative health indices, specifically obesity, are not confined to the United States (US). In New Zealand (NZ) many young persons are affected (Center for Disease Control, 2010; NZ Ministry of Health, 2012). Physical education (PE) seeks to address obesity and other health issues (Pate, O’Neil, & McIver, 2011). By researching student attitudes toward PE, the efficacy of learning outcomes for students can be improved (Cothran & Ennis, 1999). This mixed methods study involved 125 students from one high school in the US and one in NZ. Results showed that the curricula of each school were greatly varied, while student attitudes were positive toward each programming. Students cared about PE in both countries, largely because of how assessment was tied to the subject. However qualitative data showed that attitudes varied between populations for diverse reasons. Further research in the area of student attitudes toward PE, especially concerning assessment, is recommended.