Evaluating Preparation Programs for Physical Education and Health Education Teachers

Abstract

Preparation programs for physical education and health education teachers have been shaped and improved by what Bain (1990, p. 758) calls “generic research on teaching and teacher education.” Physical education teacher education (PETE) and health education teacher education (HETE) programs are based on different domains of knowledge, but they do share a common heritage, some similar goals and content, and are often located in the same administrative unit. In most states teachers of physical education and teachers of health education are licensed separately. A few states, however, continue to offer a dual physical and health education teaching credential (i.e., Pennsylvania and Tennessee). This issue will be discussed in greater detail later. One common aspect of the two programs is that, as with all teacher preparation programs, they must be evaluated at regular intervals.