Category: Education

Sport Science, Kinesiology, Physical Education or Health Science. Nearly every High School Curriculum has a program that incorporates the science of movement. Being an educator in the field I am passionate about the subject and what it can offer my students. However, not everybody is on board. What do students, teachers, parents and universities think about this intruder to the academics of science.

I have taught NCEA PE in New Zealand, IGCSE PE in Saudi Arabia and IB Sport, Exercise and Health Science in both Saudi and the Philippines. Each of these programs incorporate sport and PE but require the theoretical understanding of the subject rather than the ability to perform physically. I love teaching this material to students. Having them understand why they are able to perform that back somersault or why they can run longer than others gives me a real buzz. A number of these students relish at the chance to learn about something that they find interesting, rather than the old school subject they they are told to take. Sparking an interest in learning is something that a number of students need and Sport Science allows this. Also a large majority of my students through the years have been high school athletes. Having them learn about how to perform better almost always ends up in superior performance in the year for the school. Lastly, every year a number of my students end up pursuing a career in sport and take on further study at university. I have had students have careers in physiotherapy, sport medicine, sport management, coaching and kinesiology. The sport and physical activity industry is growing and I have had a number of students realise this and grow a career for themselves.

Variver.com a leader in science measurements has now increased its product line to include measurement associated with Sport Science. Students now have the ability to create research at the high school level and complete meaningful and accurate testing. It seems on the surface that the subject area is on the rise.

However it is not all roses and there a many road blocks in the way to have Sport Science seen as a legitimate subject. Parents, students, teachers of other subjects and universities are all hurdles that need to be overcome before a student even selects the course.

Parents- Most parents never had the opportunity to study sport at high school and now they are sceptical. When a student comes home saying they want to study Sport Science it gets questioned. It doesn’t have the history of the traditional sciences and so isn’t considered on par.

Students- Students who have never taken Sport Science see it as an easy option. They associate it with the PE lessons they took in earlier years in high school and think they only need to play sport and not study any theory.

Teachers of other subjects- Course selections are a dog eat dog world. If students don’t select your subject your subject will diminish and could even lose teaching hours. It’s sad to say but other subject teachers discourage students to select some courses to help preserve the life of theirs.

Universities- A number of universities around the would won’t accept Sport Science as a subject when considering students for a course. I had a current student apply for a Kinesiology degree (this is basically sport science) and their competition of the Sport Science course at the IB level wasn’t even considered. I find this incredibly ignorant that the subject they are about to study isn’t even considered when studied at high school.

I have been teaching Sport Science equivalent programs for over 12 years and have continued to face the same obstacle in growing the course. With the sport industry growing and being worth over USD$73 billion in North America alone when will it be considered a meaningful course at the high school level.

Sir, Mr, Coach, Pearce, Sir Jackson or Mr Pearce. These are all names I have been called throughout my teaching career. But what is the most appropriate to have the students use and what makes me feel both comfortable and uncomfortable. Whats in a name and how does the use of different names impact on student learning and a teachers perception.

I try to insist that my students call me Mr Pearce. When they call me coach or sir I feel uncomfortable and like they are looking for someone else. I like to be respected and feel like this formal name indicates that I am a leader. Having this formal name for my students helps them understand that while I can be friendly with them, I am also to be seen as an authority figure. Having a more jovial name such as Pearcey (which some students over the years have tried to call me) feels to me like I am trying to be seen as cool and on their terms. Going to social for students I think is a dangerous slope that I never want to try and ascend. Being a High School teacher I feel the need to keep the relationship professional and respectful at all times. I have had a number of colleagues over the years who have nick names that they go by with the students. I have seen it work for some of them. While others have been seen as to “chummy” with the students and found it difficult to disciple them when needed. It’s a dangerous balance that I feel can be easily avoid with the requirement of a professional relationship starting with the name.

Another name that I feel uncomfortable being called is coach. When I first arrived at my current school all the students instantly called me Coach or Coach Pearce. I had to quickly let them know that I wanted to be called Mr Pearce. While I do coach at my school I want them to know that my first job is teaching and that it is the most important of my roles. A coaches role is to improve the skills of his athletes. Athletes who already have some degree of skill and love of sport. The main role of a PE teacher is to instil the love of movement and create life long participants in physical activity. The athletes don’t need me. It’s the students who need to be sparked and find that joy in movement. The ones who generally despise PE that need me. Being called coach makes me feel like it is another barrier for those students that need me. I don’t want them to see me as a coach first but their teacher. Someone that is there for them, not just the athletes.

I came across this article from expatica.com about how students around the world address their teachers. A number of them are suggesting now that teachers be addressed by their first names. I really struggle with this concept and feel the need of separation between the teacher and the student. I maybe old school in my thinking here but I don’t feel like I am old school in my teaching. As a High School teacher being too friendly with students is a dangerous slope in my eyes.

Let me know what you think. Am I being a dinosaur in my thinking? Does it even matter what the students call you?