Scientization is a process that refers to the mythologies that are generated around the practices of working scientists. This paper discusses how science works on popular consciousness and how particular occupational groups use science to legitimatize their discipline, specifically in physical education. Two examples are presented to illustrate…

Reviews studies that have examined curriculum packages, focusing on how school knowledge is ideologically structured and organized. Borrows from discourse analysis to develop a theoretical framework for investigating how knowledge and meaning-production can be influenced. Illustrates the framework's use to design and conduct a study of a physical…

Forty Australian physical education student teachers participated in a weekend adventure education course that placed them outside their comfort zones and made them understand how less confident, lower-skilled students feel in physical education classes. Reflective writing exercises revealed participants' awareness of supportive environment, peer…

This paper examines the problem of delivering a body of knowledge based on biomedical research as a school physical education discourse. The paper attempts to deconstruct the ideology of healthism upon which the discourse is based in order to show how ascetic practices in school physical education are promoted as a way of combating the hedonistic…

A random population survey administered by mail to examine lay people's views of children's food policies and their associations with demographics, personal values and confidence in authorities was conducted among adults in Victoria, Australia. Three hundred and seventy-seven people responded (response rate 57.6%). The questionnaire contained 35…

A study investigated students' reactions to the addition of nontraditional games (played in and traditional to another country) to the physical education curriculum. Seventh grade students in Australia were introduced to game development, skills, and present status of two sports, 'Midget' Hockey, a modified version of Canadian ice hockey, and…

Describes evaluation results from 12 months of the Western Australia School Health (WASH) Project, a school health-promotion intervention that used community-development strategies to help schools identify and respond to relevant health concerns. Surveys of intervention and comparison schools indicated that schools successfully made organizational…

The booklet addresses a real need often expressed by teachers throughout Queensland for a concise yet comprehensive guide for those teaching in small schools (the paucity of material concerning small schools in the literature is rather surprising considering the very significant numbers of teachers and children who are or have had experience in…

This report presents results of an evaluation of the SPORT IT! program, a 15-week fundamental motor skill development program for Australian elementary school students. The program is taught by classroom teachers and involves approximately five sessions on each of six skill units: locomotion, ball control, throwing, tracking and trapping, kicking,…

This paper examines the self-concept of urban Western Australian Aboriginal school children, aged 11-12, in school sports settings. Most students were from the Nyoongar Aboriginal community of southwestern Western Australia. Data were collected from interviews with Aboriginal students and parents, class teachers, and sports teachers, and from…

Discusses the Queensland Languages and Cultures Initial Teacher Education Program (LACITEP), in which 50% to 80% of the subjects taken are delivered through Japanese immersion. Notes that the promotion of second-language learning is a common aim of all immersion classrooms and provides insight into how the LACITEP Health and Physical Education…

Seven articles present gender issues from a variety of perspectives, discussing a gender fair dance education program in Australia, gender issues in dance history pedagogy, women and dance performance, encouraging male participation in dance, using West African dance to combat gender issues, and gender issues across the curriculum. (SM)

This paper outlines the rationale for the development of several sports programs for Australia's children, their main features, and evidence of the extent to which they are achieving their goals. The programs include AUSSIE SPORT: Sport for Kids, a modified sports program for the senior grades of primary schools; Sportsfun, an after school program…

Argues that a male perspective, valuing individual achievement through aggressive competition, has dominated physical education. This agenda has marginalized other pedagogies and sports such as gymnastics and dance. Supports this interpretation with an analysis of policy documents, archival material, interviews, and journal articles. (MJP)

Environmental factors may have an important influence on children's physical activity, yet children's perspectives of their home and neighborhood environments have not been widely assessed. The aim of this study was to investigate children's perceptions of their environments, and to examine associations between these perceptions and objectively…