We need to talk about Peter (Arnold)

Over the past 20 years within Queensland (and Australia) the subject known as Physical Education (PE) or Health & Physical Education (HPE) has been largely influenced by Arnold’s (1979, 1988) in, through and about concepts. The Arnoldian perspective’s representation of the three types of knowledge which could be taught and learnt by teachers and students seemed to show a possible way to unifying the mind-body dichotomy which the subject has long wrestled with and create an understanding of Physical Education (PE) in schools that was distinct from the physical education that occurred in other physical activity settings. Whilst Arnold’s philosophy is referenced in our current SNR PE Syllabus, is it time to discuss if we are trying to put a square peg in a round hole? Is it time to discuss what an Arnoldian Philosophy is and is not?