The adoption of physical literacy as the goal of PE presents
a powerful opportunity for the profession. It allows us to unify
behind a vision of who we are and what we do. In the past,PE’s message has been fractured by disparate conceptions of
its purpose and meaning. The vision, physical literacy, upholds
the value of studying embodiment in schools as an essential
element of being human; provides support for a holistic education;
and allows us to educate others about our mission with
greater clarity. Physical literacy allows for an integration of a
sound philosophical position with current scholarship from the
sub-disciplines in our field and best practices in teaching.
Perhaps most importantly, it addresses the needs of all learners
in the dimension of embodiment.
PE has been remarkably resistant to change over the years.
Despite the best efforts of many professionals and university
teacher education programs, many PE programs seem unaffected
by developments in the field.17 Far too many programs
are stuck in a model that does not support genuine learning or
the needs of most students. “Unpacking” physical literacy
helps us define what learners really need to master and may
help the profession achieve the coherence and rigor needed to
be relevant in schools.