Formation Process of Body Culture as “PE Teacher Identity”: An Introduction to the PE Teacher Body Theory

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the formation process of body culture, i.e., gestures and behavior, of physical education teachers in Japan based on phenomenological body theory, and to present a theoretical basis for the most desirable ``PE teacher identity''. It has been pointed out that PE teacher body culture has a variety of in‰uences on students. However, how a teacher acquires body culture has never been su‹ciently considered. Therefore the paper focuses on the phenomenological body theory that suggests the relationship between habits and the perceptual experience of body culture formation. The main points of discussion are as follows: Previous studies have shown that the image of the PE teacher as a coach has been well established, and that clariˆcation of the process of body culture formation is warranted. In previous studies, the body culture of PE teachers has been discussed mainly in terms of `habitus'. However, it has not been clariˆed how individual PE teachers embody such a culture. Phenomenological body theory indicates that acquisition of habit involves reworking and renewal of the body schema through perception in‰uenced by culture. Based on this, analysis of corporal punishment as a typical example of body culture in school athletic clubs can be used to clarify the model formation of PE teacher's body culture. PE teachers' thoughts and behavior are unconsciously formed as a ``body schema'' through experience of school athletic clubs where a coach's one-sided method of instruction is almost unconditionally accepted by students striving to acquire athletic success. In conclusion, ``PE teacher identity'' is formed on the basis of original body culture, and is embodied as a habit through unconscious processes. This is why PE teachers seldom notice their behavior, and thus do not change or improve it. It is only through a ``body schema'' and perceptual experience that a PE teacher's thoughts and behavior, ``PE teacher identity'', can be reconstructed. The possibility of PE teacher body theory can be established on the basis of this viewpoint.