Physical education within the public school system is recognized as one of the essential ways to ensure that children meet daily physical activity goals. However, it is also well known that time assigned to physical education classes is limited and has focused heavily on sport or sport like games. For those who are not athletically inclined, or who simply do not like sport, PE classes have also been the source of much childhood trauma! This episode takes a critical look at physical and health education in Canada and considers whether it's time to move to leisure and health education as a means of promoting participation in physical activity.
Sources: BC Physical and Health Education Curriculum (2022).
Caldwell, L., Baldwin, C., Walls, T., & Smith, E. (2004). Preliminary effects of a leisure education program to promote healthy use of free time among middle school adolescents.
Canadian Women & Sport (2020). The Rally Report
Swaiths, W., Young, G., & Temertzoglou (2021). Exploring Physical Education in Canada: Part of the 2021 Series
UNESCO (2013). Berlin Declaration
World Health Organization (n.d.). Physical Activity