Body capital: United States-Brazil cross-cultural study of sports educational motivation and inclusion

Antonio Muller, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

In every country in the world, school is considered an essential factor in the development of children, citizens, and the country as a whole. In developing countries such as Brazil, however, the number of school drop outs is very high. Many issues contribute to this reality: from the students' malnutrition and the persistence of social stratification to inadequate connections between school and students' outside environment. In developed countries such as the United States, there is an urgent need for school reforms in curricular and pedagogical issues. With the accountability system based on testing results, also to a lack of adequate funds available, there is a decline in the importance of extra-curricular activities, such as sports and music and expanding more time and preoccupation in test results to the detriment of students' appreciation. This study explains the variables that impact and form the sport participation patterns and develop the sport culture in both countries. Participants were thirty-four male and female high school students (18 in El Paso, TX, USA and 16 in Blumenau, SC, Brazil) from four different schools, divided into low-income and high-income groups. The intention of this study is to demonstrate how sport can develop its role to contribute to the promotion of social inclusion and academic motivation. Moreover, support new conceptualization for sport connected to education which developed a new theory called “Sportive Praxis” which is critical action and reflection to originate new sportive, social, and cultural facts in order to transform the world.

Subject Area

Educational psychology|Physical education|Recreation

Recommended Citation

Muller, Antonio, "Body capital: United States-Brazil cross-cultural study of sports educational motivation and inclusion" (2004). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI3151884.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI3151884

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