About the future of physical education

Prof. Dr Susanne Tittlbach holds the chair of Social and Health Sciences of Sport at the University of Bayreuth. She conducts research on educational aspects of school sport and trains future teachers, but also works on public health and exercise. Her expertise is known beyond the university's borders and so she was recently invited to be an expert in the education committee of the state parliament. "First I received an informal request whether I could imagine speaking as an expert at a hearing on the future of physical education in Bavaria's schools, then I received a whole catalogue of questions to which I gave my opinion in writing," says Prof. Dr. Susanne Tittlbach.

In the Landtag, there were nine questions that were discussed by several experts in the three-hour session. "In my five-page statement, I naturally could not address all the questions," says Tittlbach. "That's why I decided on the physical activity behaviour of children and young people from a social point of view, the orientation of competence-oriented and multi-perspective physical education as its future, as well as physical education teacher training that prepares them for this as topics. It is a matter close to my heart that this is being talked about." Tittlbach is certain that society is changing; changed childhood and youth, cultural diversity and young people's culture of movement must also be given more consideration in physical education. The scientific and subject-didactic consensus states that physical education must contribute to a sporting ability to act, i.e. the teaching of sport-related competences as the foundation of movement-specific knowledge and skills, in order to enable pupils to participate in the culture of sport and movement. School sport is of particular importance because all children and young people can be reached there, regardless of socio-economic factors or sporting family socialisation. . "The curriculum must take better account of the broader culture of sport and physical activity and move away from an exclusive orientation towards standardised sports. Likewise, a methodical linking of sporting activities with cognitive elements in physical education is indispensable for the development of competences. Only then will children and young people be able to reflect for themselves which sport, which movement gives them pleasure and how they want to and can integrate it into their own lifestyle," she says. "Prospective teachers must be prepared for this kind of teaching. That's why I think that the LPO, i.e. the teaching examination regulations, should be adapted. Teachers need not only sporting skills, the assessment of which makes up a very large part of the first state examination, but especially the ability to link sporting actions and experiences with cognitive parts in a way that is appropriate for pupils."

Tittlbach knows a lot about the hardships and constraints of teachers*. "The topics from physical education teacher education occupy me almost daily. That is why I chose this focus for the hearing as an expert witness. I think a lot of things could be improved here with simple means."

The subject area on which Professor Tittlbach spoke before the Bundestag's Sports Committee is different. "It was about mass sport there. This is an area that the Sports Committee, which primarily deals with topics related to elite sport, has dealt with in this way for the first time," says Tittlbach. That is why it was so important for her to contribute her expertise there. "It is not the case that this will immediately lead to measures or laws, but it is important that the decision-makers are aware of the differentiated connections between physical activity and public health as well as the different accessibility of population groups for physical activity and sport. Indeed, entry into sport and physical activity is still a question of social background."

How things will now proceed in the Sports Committee of the Bundestag or the Education Committee of the Landtag is an open question. "As an expert, you don't know what is done internally with the information," says Tittlbach. But she hopes that the extra work she has put into preparing the statements will bear fruit. After all, it is a matter of the heart for her.