My 10-year-old has fallen for karate, and I couldn’t be happier. I love that he’s found a sport he truly enjoys, that he's having fun, building friendships and learning about discipline. But the very best thing about this program is the message shared by Renshi (the class teacher) at every session that we should all aspire to be lifelong learners. Even black belt students are still students. There is always more to learn.
This issue has plenty of articles that support that important idea. We can learn, for example, from the impressive list of PHE Canada National Award winners. No doubt those named in the winners’ list would credit their successes to asking plenty of questions, as well.
One of our peer-reviewed articles this issue, on the topic of professional development for physical and health education teachers, considers how we can improve our own understanding of our field, as well as others’ perception of it. The second peer-reviewed article this issue considers the impact of a Grade 4 instructor’s actions on student motivation — all in an effort to further our understanding and adjust course, as necessary.
In our Teacher to Teacher section, one PHE professional asks colleagues for best practices to improve classroom management. And our upcoming Teach Resiliency webinar is designed to help professionals build a solid set of skills to support students' mental well-being.
Also in this issue, a tribute to May Brown, a teacher, advocate and pioneer in the field of physical and health education, as well as new resources for exploring Indigenous themes through dance, and a spotlight on Yukon health promotion coordinator Sharon Brown.
Our letter from the President in this issue considers the Annual Conference’s return to the city where physical education in Canada began. Also from the conference, we’re pleased to share the full transcript of Dr. Paul Wright’s R. Tait McKenzie address, “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants,” reflecting on how the trailblazers before us set the stage for our continued growth and questioning.
In the words of author and philosopher Paulo Coelho, “You’re always learning. The problem is, sometimes you stop and think you understand the world. This is not correct. The world is always moving. You never reach the point where you can stop making an effort.”
PHE Canada warmly thanks all those who contributed to this edition of Journal. We hope you enjoy the issue!