The impact of PE on the issue of bullying

Abstract

PE lessons have both a negative and a positive effect on bullying issues. The researchers sought to know if PE lessons are helping to decrease bullying or if they are promoting an increase in this phenomenon. Different types of bullying issues that occur in school during PE lessons and the reasons why such issues occur were investigated. Another objective was to investigate whether or not bullying issues are being given enough importance in Maltese secondary state schools, and whether the correct actions are being taken by those in charge, both in authority and the teachers themselves. In order to answer the research questions, we conducted a total of eight interviews: four with PE teachers; three with PSD teachers/Counsellors; and one with an Anti-Bullying Agency representative. Furthermore, a total of 300 questionnaires were handed out to form 4 students of which 228 were collected. The results showed that both students and the teachers feel that PE lessons help to decrease bullying. The main reasons for this result was that they believe that social interaction and teamwork during the lessons were a catalyst in order to decrease bullying. PE teachers claimed that the relationship between the students themselves is encouraged because of the activities that are conducted by the PE teacher. The majority of the PE teachers feel that lesson differentiation is key to help in decreasing bullying.