Iowa Association For Health, Physical Education, Recreation And Dance (IAHPERD)
State of Iowa
Legislature Alert
Content Mastery for Teachers of
Elementary Physical Education
Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation, and Dance (IAHPERD)
Position Statement
Physical education is a unique and essential part of the total education program. It can significantly enhance all aspects of development in the specific areas of academic performance, health, weight control, physical fitness, movement knowledge, self-esteem, stress, management, and social development. Therefore, the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance strongly endorses the establishment and maintenance of content mastery for teachers of elementary physical education. Educational programs of high quality in all areas are predicated upon having competent, dedicated, and knowledgeable teachers who utilize appropriate instructional techniques and strategies. Elementary physical education is no exception to this basic tenet. It is incumbent upon teachers of elementary physical education to obtain sufficient preservice and inservice training to be able to deliver appropriate educational experiences for their students. Furthermore, school administrators and the state department of education should ensure that those persons hired to teach elementary physical education possess appropriate certification and a contemporary knowledge based to teach in this specialized area. Knowledge of both the art and science of human movement is essential to the unique nature of elementary physical education teaching. Consequently, expertise in the special areas of fundamental motor skills, games and sports, gymnastics, aquatics, movement skills for lifetime participation, rhythms and dance, and exercise and health-related fitness founded upon an understanding of pedagogical physical education and the appropriate disciplinary knowledge is essential for teachers of elementary physical education. Such instruction should be based upon the needs, abilities and interests at all developmental levels. The elementary physical education teacher is also responsible to see that indoor and outdoor facilities be maintained to meet safety standards, quality equipment and supplies are provided to meet the needs of all students, and special programs be adapted for students who have special needs.
Research has shown that competent teachers credentialed in elementary physical education provide the best physical education programs. It is obligatory that schools hire certified teachers and assign them to teach in their area of certification. There is an increasing concern that hiring practices and teaching assignments are maintained without primary regard to the competence or commitment of the teacher to provide appropriate physical education instruction for students. Instead, many physical education classes have been assigned to contained classroom teachers of elementary students, many of whom have neither the qualifications nor the preparation to teach this special area. Without adequate professional preparation, content knowledge, and in some cases interest in physical education, these teachers have been thrust into situations with little opportunity to provide appropriate physical education instruction to elementary students. Such practices are indefensible as part of an appropriate educational experience when an increased emphasis on the quantity and quality of physical education programs is in direct compliance with Healthy People 2000, our national strategy for improving the health of all Americans. Certified physical educators, like teachers in other subject areas, should be assigned to teach elementary physical education.
For additional information contact:
, Executive Director-IAHPERD
School of HPELS, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614, 319/
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