1. School Sport Self-Concept of Urban Aboriginal School Children: Teacher Influences.
- Author
-
Kickett-Tucker, Cheryl S.
- Abstract
This paper examines the self-concept of urban Western Australian Aboriginal school children, aged 11-12, in school sports settings. Most students were from the Nyoongar Aboriginal community of southwestern Western Australia. Data were collected from interviews with Aboriginal students and parents, class teachers, and sports teachers, and from observations in the school sport setting. Overall, school sports contributed favorably to Aboriginal students' self-concept and feelings about their Aboriginality. Sports activities generated enjoyment and provided opportunities for students to demonstrate their sport and physical competencies. Although males and females differed in their sports preferences, basketball was a favorite of all Aboriginal students, regardless of gender or ability. All students reported positive expectations about their ability to perform well in sports in the future. However, the school did not meet student needs to develop their sports competence. The school's potential impact outweighed its actual impact on students' self-concepts and ultimately their self-esteem. Students reported that the competence they displayed in the sports setting and the feelings generated by their participation had a powerful bearing on their confidence to identify as Aboriginals and so produced positive feelings of pride, strength, and passion about themselves. Student self-esteem was boosted by feedback from non-Aboriginal children and teachers, sports awards, demonstrated sports competence, physical competence, and social competence. (Contains 35 references.) (SV)
- Published
- 1999