TEACHING RECRUITS PHYSICAL-EDUCATION BACKGROUNDS AND BELIEFS ABOUT PURPOSES FOR THEIR SUBJECT-MATTER

This study described 476 recruits' physical education backgrounds and beliefs about the purposes for physical education. Beliefs about purpo ses are formed in part by physical education experiences and are impor tant to examine because they are difficult to change and because they influence students' receptivity to teacher education. Most recruits re called programs that focused on traditional team sports, games, and fi tness programs, with less emphasis on individual sports and expressive or noncompetitive activities. Few differences by sex, race, or socioe conomic status were found. Recruits' reported purposes were coded into nine categories; the top purposes were learning skills, named specifi c activities, and fitness. The discussion focuses on the possibility o f the existence of a de facto national curriculum and factors to consi der if changes in physical education curriculum are desired.