Opinions of Students of Public Primary School and High School of Thrace Regarding the Olympic Education Course

Abstract

This research was conducted in order to study the opinion of Primary and High school students about the Olympic education course. Students attending the 5th to 6th primary school grade (N=164) and the 1st to 3rd high school grade (N=164) of randomly selected schools residing at the three main cities of Thrace (Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupoli) participated in the study. Data were collected using the Athens 2004, Education and Training section Questionnaire, which was slightly modified for the purpose of the study. Frequencies and t-test were used for statistical analysis. According to the results, all the students demonstrated an overall positive opinion for the Olympic education course. The percentage of positive answers however, was significantly higher for primary comparing to higher school graders, which tended to be more reserved and uncertain. All the students gave different answers about the lesson’s contents, the sports that must be included in the lesson, the lesson’ s grading system and the time of the day that the lesson was curried out. It was concluded that that the Olympic education course contributed in the acquirement of new knowledge and skills, promoted friendship and moral team play in an environment highly focused on exercise and learning. It seems that this is a course which is truly accepted by the students, complementing the Greek educational system.