Reflections on meaningful physical education
Four physical education scholars have been an influence on my thinking about meaningful physical education. Here, I briefly outline the key ideas of each that have influenced me. Then, I look at what I understand they have in common and how the ideas are connected into significance for the ohysical education teacher. Eleanor Metheny suggested human movement as a symbolic language. Metheny argued that movement is a uniquely human way of knowing, feeling, and expressing meaning that cannot be captured by verbal language alone. Just as spoken words symbolise abstract ideas, physical actions symbolise personal feelings, relationships to the environment, and social interactions. The "meaning" comes from the internal, subjective experience of the mover (kinaesthetic perception), not just the outcome of a skill. Sports, gymnastics, dance, and fitness. are culturally developed "movement forms" that allow individuals to explore existential concepts like space, force, tim...
