Olympism, physical education and attitudes and values: what do graduating teachers in Aotearoa, New Zealand know and understand?

ABSTRACT Attitudes and values (A + V) are an important component of the New Zealand physical education (PE) curriculum. These A + V have a strong synergy with the philosophy of Olympism and New Zealand is recognised as one of the few countries to link these constructs in a national curriculum statement. While these two constructs are linked, little is known about graduating teachers’ knowledge of them. This study set out to understand the graduating teachers’ knowledge of A + V in the national PE curriculum and that of Olympism. The study identified that there was variability between primary and secondary students’ knowledge of the curriculum’s A + V and the philosophy of Olympism. Conclusions include the suggestion that there are some inadequacies that need addressing in present Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs. It recommends that a more systematic approach be adopted drawing on a critical tradition to address the explicit teaching of combining A + V and the philosophy of Olympism within present ITE PE programs.