Effects of a daily physical education programme on the attitude of elementary school pupils

A daily physical educationprogramme (one 40 minute session) lasting for three years was implemented in 14 schools (kindergarten and primary levels). These schools were located in the whole territory of the French Community in Belgium. More than 3.500 children were involved in the experimental programme. Its implementation demanded a close cooperation between classroom teachers and physical education specialists. The evaluation of the effects of the daily physical education programme was copleted on the basis of a multidimensional data collection. This paper deals essentially with the children's attitudes in the comparison of experimental aned control schools and the longitudinal aspect of the study. A progressive deterioration of the pupils' attitude towards school was evidenced. However, children from the experimental classes maintained a significantly more favourable attitude towareds school and towards classroom and specialists teachers than pupils from control classes at each investigated level.