Physical education and school sport

This chapter discusses the (alleged) importance of physical education (PE) and school sport ¹ to society. It begins with a brief sketch of the ways in which PE is said to be important (primarily by physical educationalists, it must be noted) socially. This is followed by an exploration of what have, perhaps, been the pre-eminent justifications for a social role for school PE: the (secondary) socialisation ² of future adult citizens and health promotion. This leads into a critique of what is arguably the pre-condition for any wider social role for PE, such as health promotion: namely, PE as a (perhaps the) key mediator in the formation of predispositions (what sociologists might call habits or habitus) towards lifelong participation in sport. Against this backdrop, the chapter concludes by speculating on the future of PE in relation to any wider social role (Coalter, 2007) it might fulfil and, in particular, education for leisure.