Despite the success of graduates from the IU physical education program, some alumni are concerned because the program’s enrollment is declining. The program even stopped accepting new students this year.
Graduates of the 2002 class recently won teacher of the year awards. One of the winners, Chris Berg, said he hopes these accomplishments will shed a light on the importance of physical education teaching and the achievements of IU’s diminishing program.
“Nobody has had the success that IU has had,” Berg said. “The program has turned out highly effective teachers at the national level.”
Berg won Elementary Teacher of the Year through the Indiana Society for Health and Physical Educators, as well as the Midwest Teacher of the Year award through Shape America. Two other PETE graduates who were in the 2002 class with Berg also won awards. Andy Horne won 2015 National Health Teacher of the Year, and Heidi Stan won 2016 Physical Education Teacher of the Year through the Society of Health and Physical Educators.
The physical education program has been around for a long time and formed at the same time as the School of Public Health.
“The modern equivalent of the program would likely be dated by most to 1946, when the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation was formed on campus from existing and new units,” said Dr. Donetta Jean Cothran, the physical education program coordinator and kinesiology professor.
Although the physical education program has shaped successful graduates and award-winning teachers, the program is declining in popularity.
“IU’s program has become kind of diluted,” Berg said. “It only has two years remaining.”
The PETE program prepares students to be licensed in Indiana to teach physical education to all grades pre-kindergarten through high school. But it is not a highly marketed program, said Berg.
“It was at its peak when I was in it,” he said. “Now, a lot of people don’t know that they can become a physical education teacher. There is not a lot of respect in the education field in general right now, and there is low teacher pay.”
Dr. Cothran agreed that the physical education program faces the same challenges as the education field in general but also has specialized issues.
“Exercise science, fitness, or sport management are now available at the undergraduate level, so many students have chosen to specialize earlier in their careers, leaving physical education with a smaller pool of applicants,” Cothran said.
However, Berg said the program’s effectiveness has not declined. Dr. Cothran and and Dr. Keith Chapin, another kinesiology professor, devote a lot of their time to physical education.
“Their guidance and professionalism set the bar high for everyone,” Berg said. “They use applicable teaching methods and use research-based techniques and a real world take on movement.”
Their responsibilities not only include teaching and advising students but ensuring they succeed in the real world. As the university supervisor for physical education student teachers, Dr. Chapin travels around Indiana visiting student teachers.
“During the semester-long experience, I visit each student teacher on six occasions – three times at the elementary level and three more times at the secondary level,” Chapin said.
Dr. Cothran said he is hopeful that the program will regain its strength and continue to produce award-winning teachers.
“It's very exciting to know that we played a small part in the very large part these graduates are doing to positively impact thousands of students in their careers,” Cothran said.
