A interdição do corpo nas aulas de Educação Física : um estudo sobre os confrontos religiosos

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze precepts instituted by protestant religions in what concerns the human body, as well as the impacts that such precepts have on students‟ behavior in Physical Education activity sessions. The interest in this research emerged from the teaching of Physical Education in elementary school environments, where the nonparticipation of some students claiming religious motives was observed. After several teaching experiences and the implementation of varied teaching strategies, an increase in participation of those students was revealed. Still, suspicion remained during the activity sessions and many students did not attend them, claiming supposed religious restrictions against certain body practices, which lead to the development of this study. Hence, the review of literature was conducted regarding the history of body practices and the influences of religion in its development. Furthermore, the practice of Physical Education was analyzed according to its consolidation as a curriculum component endowed with knowledge cultivated by society itself and that should be experienced in school. This study is based on an explanatory research with a qualitative approach; the research was conducted in two public elementary schools, located in the cities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, both in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The subjects were students, teachers and religious leaders of churches frequented by the students. It was found that a large number of students did not attend the Physical Education classes for religious reasons, however, it was also noticed that the restrictions may refer to specific body practices. The most cited prohibited body practices include: dance, fights (mainly capoeira) and board games. Concerns related to the body were revealed in the discourses of both students and religious leaders; however, the preoccupation remained restricted to the normative rules of the Church regarding the avoiding of sin in its individual and influential forms and was mainly voiced by the religious leaders, committed to lead the followers in sheer accordance to a regiment of doctrinal requirements. Finally, it was observed that Physical Education teachers acknowledge the prohibition of certain body practices, yet the teaching practice should be analyzed and redesigned in order to guarantee the proper inclusion of students subject to the restrictions and make the knowledge of Physical Education accessible to them.