Comparison of physical fitness in practical elementary school children and ordinary elementary school children
Abstract
The aim of the research was to assess and compare the physical fitness of pupils at practical elementary school and pupils at ordinary elementary school. The survey sample at the PES consisted of 60 pupils (30 boys and 30 girls) aged 14 to 15, and at OES 60 pupils (30 boys and 30 girls) of the same age category.
Seven motor tests were used to this end: "deep forward bend", "standing long jump", "press-ups", "repeated sit-ups", "60 m run", "1500 m run" (for boys)/"800 m run" (for girls). As regards average performances in the individual tests, lower physical fitness was proven among pupils at practical elementary school, with the exception of the performance of girls in the "deep forward bend" test and "60 m run".
A not entirely obvious but to some extent alarming convergence of performances in selected motor tests can be observed - we attribute this not to the improving fitness of pupils at practical elementary school but rather to the declining fitness of pupils at ordinary elementary school. This is particularly evident among girls, where the substantive significance of differences in performance were generally small.
When the two sets of children are compared overall, the children's performances were most similar in the flexibility test. By contrast, in the press-ups and repeated sit-ups tests, i.e. tests of dynamic endurance and strength, we can observe large differences.
Besides specific reduced individual motor abilities, the problem for most practical elementary school children consists in their psychological specifics (above all lack of motivation and will), in the unsatisfactory conditions of the environment (above all unfavourable material, spatial and personnel conditions for physical education in schools and the low level of the children's participation in extramural exercise activities).