UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GYMNASTICS IN SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION: PERSPECTIVES OF TEACHERS FROM STATE AND MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS IN JUIZ DE FORA, MG, BRAZIL.

PERSPECTIVAS DE PROFESSORES DAS REDES ESTADUAL E MUNICIPAL DE JUIZ DE FORA, MG- BRASIL

Abstract

The study aims to identify how gymnastics is perceived in school Physical Education (PE) by teachers from public schools in Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. With a qualitative approach, it is characterized as field research, involving the intersection of information from existing scientific literature and documentary data about gymnastics and school PE. Additionally, data were gathered through questionnaires applied to PE teachers from state and municipal schools in Juiz de Fora, MG. The focus was to understand, through their accounts, their engagement with gymnastics content on personal, school, and academic dimensions, followed by an analysis of the significance of gymnastics in their classes. Twelve teachers responded to the questionnaire, a tool that allowed the creation of a profile of the educators concerning personal characteristics, academic background, and professional experience. One of the main aspects highlighted in the study was the meanings attributed by the teachers, based on elements drawn from their experiences with gymnastics and movement, as well as cultural body practices, both in teaching environments and in their extracurricular lives.