Physical Fitness and Language Arts Achievement Correlations ina Rural Fifth Grade Population
This study investigated the correlation between physical fitness and language arts achievement in the fifth-grade population at a rural California elementary school. Past research has indicated a possible positive correlation between physical fitness and academic achievement, with a stronger correlation found in girls than in boys. At the same time, physical education is being reduced or curtailed in many schools in favor of more core instructional time in an attempt to increase test scores. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the results of previous studies are replicated in this sample. Results confirmed previous studies that found a stronger positive correlation in girls than in boys; however, unlike in previous studies, a negative correlation was found in boys. Examination of details in the sample of this study suggest that the negative correlation found in this sample might be due to the large population of male Resource Specialist Program students found in this sample.
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