Framing citizenship: from assumptions to possibilities in health and physical education

ABSTRACT

Within the Australian context physical education (PE) and more recently health and physical education (HPE) have long been ascribed utilitarian value for producing healthy citizens. Whilst this has not been a linear progression over time, traces from the past do inform current assumptions about this utilitarian role. Of consequence are historical contingencies and responses to societal problems around health-related conduct and capabilities of the nations’ citizens. In this paper a genealogical approach is adopted to explore discourses and power relations that have framed the contribution of PE and HPE in shaping students for healthy citizenship. Disciplinary technologies associated with military-style physical training, civilising technologies of game play and responsibilising governmental technologies of contemporary policies will be explored. I conclude in arguing that if HPE is to prepare all students for equitable, inclusive citizenship what is required is the adoption of curricula and pedagogies that counteract hegemonic notions of individual responsibility for healthy citizenship.

KEYWORDS:

• Health and physical education
• citizenship
• genealogy
• Foucault

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Alison Wrench http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6407-3503

Notes

1. Within the Australian context, since 1991 with the ratification of Statements and Profiles, Health and Physical Education (HPE) has existed as a merged learning area. This merger reflects recognition of good health as an outcome for physical education, which has continued to gain purchase since the 1980s (Lupton, 1999).

2. A differentiated class based system of schooling has operated in Australia from settler and colonial times. The development of state systems had little impact on high fee paying schools for the elite (Hyams et al., 1988)

3. The Age is a broadsheet newspaper, published in Melbourne, with a readership base across Australia. The Age seeks to present strong analysis of domestic and international news.