My original inquiry question was “what are other ways we can assess students in a Physical and Health Education (PHE) class using the new curriculum?” My intention using this question was to see if PHE classes could move away from the “norm” of fitness testing, participation and proper gym strip as the only way to assess and grade students.  I wanted to incorporate projects relating to health or collaborate with other teachers from different subjects to do some cross-curricular work.  I moved away from the assessment theme and have now come up with a new question regarding coeducation PHE classes.

My inquiry question is based on an ongoing struggle in Physical and Health Education classes all over the world. Should high school PHE classes be coed? In British Columbia, male adolescents are more physically active than females and these female students are much less likely to enroll in senior (grade 11 & 12) physical education classes than males (Ryan & Poirier, 2012). Could this be due to females not enjoying their coed PE classes? Gabbei (2004) stated “single-gender classes are a legitimate option to provide female students with an equal opportunity to achieve learning goals in a physically and emotionally safe environment” which is something I strongly agree with. This inquiry question popped up while on practicum since my school and many other schools in BC have coeducational classes. I grew up and attended a high school with single gendered classes until the senior grades when PE became an elective. I’m currently against coed classes and prefer single gendered, but my opinion may be influenced due to the fact that I grew up with single-sex classes. A concern I have witnessed with coed classes while observing classes is that boys do not always give girls the chance to participate. Fogelklou (2009) reported that females felt inferior, and that boys do not pass to the girls during team sports. Girls might feel intimidated by others in the group if the game becomes too competitive. This has been noticed on my practicum – sometimes the teacher will set up 2 different game objects, one for only boys and one for only girls. If there is going to be gender separation, why not have the classes divided into single-gendered classes to begin with?