SPORT: SUBJECT FOR STUDY IN THE AMERICAN SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

摘要

The institution of sport provides a viable medium for studying and teaching societal values. This analytical paper presents a rationale for answering the question: Is the subject of sport academically justifiable in the American secondary school curriculum as a lens for studying society?;The rationale for the creation of the course, teaching it for a period of six years to American secondary school students and the subsequent analysis of the experience stems from a belief that sport serves as a microcosm in American society through which societal values and norms are reflected. The subject matter enables students to identify with something familiar and venture into personal and societal value considerations in a safe environment.;The course is presented in topical fashion with the following subjects receiving consideration: Why the study of sport? Sport and culture; Sport: Some Cross-cultural perspectives; the Female and sport; Race and sport; the Economics of sport; Sport and culture, and the Mass media and sport.;Numerous class exercises, student written work, student and faculty course evaluations are presented serving to provide informative parameters for other practitioners in their research and teaching endeavours.;The author addresses both the personal and academic motivation prompting the creation of a secondary school course on sport and the rationale for undertaking an analysis of same. The methodology used in researching course material in order to avoid personal bias and enhance the breadth of the study receives careful attention. Techniques employed include: an exhaustive search and analysis of the literature (the author's Qualifying Paper serves as the resource providing the review of the literature); reviewing high school and University course offerings closely related to the subject area; attending sport-related symposia and conferences; cataloguing and analyzing professional sport journals and the news media and relating personal experience in sport endeavours at various levels and in various capacities.