ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a specific situation that occurred during the classroom section of a secondary methods block for physical education majors. The block was designed to help students critically examine the fundamental assumptions prevalent in secondary physical education classes. The course materials included numerous critical observation instruments and autobiographical questions focusing on the issues of race, class, gender and homosexuality. Historically, the field of physical education has suffered from a lack of respect. Physical educators have tried to gain credibility by adopting rigorous empirical positions concerning the nature and content of physical education. The social attitudes prevalent in the classroom supported the idea that public school education, specifically physical education, served the interests of the current student population. The leadership in higher education should provide a climate that is conducive to an analysis of current practice with an eye to change.
