For Whom and to What End? : The challenges of the subject physical education and health seen through various perspectives

• Physical education and health (PEH) has long been both called into question and sought after in public debate. The development of society has led to both realistic and unrealistic expectations of the subject’s contributions. Using international studies, the article aims to illustrate in a multidisciplinary way how different researchers view the focus and objective of the subject. The article ends with some possible conclusions and implications based on the various research findings presented. Included in the discussion is the problem inherent in the fact that researchers from different disciplines so rarely come together to make joint recommendations on the subject.   The legitimacy of the subject has gone from the nation’s need for disciplined bodies to the need to reduce society’s incapacity rates. The subject’s learning value for the individual in terms of knowledge qualities, such as motor and social development, physical experience and the significance of its intrinsic value for well-being are less frequently mentioned in political  and public health contexts– but all the more so when educational sociologists discuss the content and importance of the subject. The field of PEH will in the future have to deal with new strategies for sustainable and lifelong attitudes to exercise and well-being.      

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Idrottsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Sport and Fitness Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

physical education and health

health

physical education

school-sport-health

Sports

Idrott

Samhällsvetenskap/Humaniora

Social Sciences/Humanities

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)