Impacting on practice ... exploring curricula and pedagogical issues in educational contexts : holistic development of the child through physical education based on the ideals of olympism

Abstract

This paper takes a close look at how physical education (PE) teachers can positively impact students' development in the various domains. In order to do this, PE teachers themselves need to be professionally prepared to teach PE with a focus on not only the physical domain, but on the holistic development of the child. One way of doing this is by basing Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) on Olympism - since olympism views engagement in sport as a necessary and desirable component for the holistic development of the person. Therefore, sport should contribute to the physical, cognitive, socio/, and moral development of the child. Yet, such development does not occur automatically but needs careful planning from adults working with children. The main aim of this paper therefore, is to analyse how PE can contribute to the child's holistic development, with a special emphasis on moral and social development.