‘it’s about bringing people together’: one middle school physical education teacher’s attempt at deploying character education

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Despite the field’s rich history and relationship with the concept of character education, to date, there would appear to be no in-depth empirical case studies that describe in pedagogical terms, how a physical educator can cultivate character through a school-based physical education setting. Purpose The purpose of this investigation, therefore, was to describe how one teacher deployed character education in the context of middle school physical education. Method An in-depth case study design was used to study how Joseph, a first-year teacher located in the Mid-South region of the United States attempted to cultivate character through physical education. Data were collected using eight interpretive techniques (formal and informal interviews, observations and field notes, film of teaching, critical incident reports, documents, and artifacts) and analyzed using thematic analysis. Data trustworthiness and reliability of the data analysis were established using four techniques. Findings Joseph deployed a ‘thematic approach’ to teaching character education. The organizational structure, methods, and content used to inform this approach were identified. The factors acting to support Joseph’s character-related pedagogies of affect included school support and teacher autonomy. Components undermining Joseph’s efforts were factors outside of his control. Conclusion This case study provides one in-depth insight into how a school-based physical educator attempted to cultivate character in the context of physical education. It would appear that Joseph’s experience deploying character education was overwhelmingly positive and that more factors acted to compliment his efforts as opposed to undermine it. To that end, much more in-depth empirical research utilizing philosophically informed interpretations of character formation are needed if we are to continue to use this terminology within the language of physical education.