Teaching Physical Education in England--Description and Analysis.

Overview & Synopsis

This book brings together two approaches to the study of physical education in England: (1) a descriptive analysis of the existing physical education curriculum in schools and colleges; and (2) an examination of research evidence concerning the behavior of the physical education teacher. The two approaches are brought together in a short prescriptive and speculative look into the future of the profession. The first part of the book describes the physical education courses and curricula operating within primary and secondary schools and traces the selection of training courses taken by physical education teachers at specialists colleges. The tremendous freedom afforded to the individual physical education teacher in the design program content is pointed out, and it is noted that, even at the college level within teacher training programs, there is a great variety of course content and depth of study in particular subjects for specialist students. Revealed, too, are the rather confined and restricted physical education programs actually being taught in a number of schools. Such constraints are attributed to a number of factors discussed in the second part of the book. A series of theoretical frameworks is provided to aid in the study of the educational encounters of physical education teachers and their pupils. Evidence derived from the frameworks indicates that general teaching objectives are directed towards creating in the pupils social awareness and responsibility, self-awareness, all-around physical development, enjoyment, and a general interest in school. Teachers see themselves as hard working, honest, and knowledgeable about their pupils and their subject. (MM)