The aim of this study was to analyze the participation and appropriation of the physical education class for students who are in its margins, at the "periphery" of the sports' court. The study was carried out in a public school as an ethnography, relying on observations and semi-structured interviews. The results showed that participation and appropriation of the physical education class fell into three categories: (not) practicing, active and floating. The analysis of each category has contributed to elucidate the existence of different stereotypes, prejudice and thus inequality of opportunities in the physical education class. Nevertheless, although there was, on the part of the students, limited acquisition of knowledge on Physical Education, they could develop experiences of sociability with each other free from the formal constraints usually found in classrooms.
Physical Education; school; culture; sociability
