Dean's Lecture: Richard Tinning, Professor of Physical Education 
27 June 2012
Refreshments 5pm, Lecture 6 -7pm
Venue: Refreshments: Staff room, Level 2 A Block; Lecture: J1 lecture theatre. Epsom Campus, Gate 3, 74 Epsom Ave, Epsom, Auckland (View map). Free Parking available at Gate 2.
Contact info: RSVP by Friday 22 June to Maureen Tizard, +64 9 623 8899 ext 48689
Dean’s Lecture
Professor Richard Tinning
School of Curriculum and Pedagogy, The University of Auckland
School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland
Physical education… often loved, sometimes loathed, usually misunderstood: A meditation on education, physical activity, the body and health.
Physical Education (PE) has been around for a long time. In its many forms, physical education is essentially concerned with physical activity (mainly exercise & sport), the body and health. Since PE is a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools in many countries (including New Zealand), everyone will have an opinion about it. In most circumstances, however, personal experience of PE classes will be an inadequate basis for understanding the nature and potential worth of Physical Education as a field of study, or PE as a school subject.
In this meditation I will discuss the development of Physical Education as a school subject and as a field of study at university. I will discuss some of the tensions that have been part of such developments and offer some suggestions regarding policy and practice that might contribute to a more reasonable and productive engagement of Physical Education within our universities and schools systems.
