After reviewing the Reflection & Guiding Questions, analyze the responses and identify any areas where potential bias might be disruptive to creating an open and inclusive learning environment. While it’s not expected of educators to change their opinions or views on certain topics, educators do have a responsibility to encourage students to explore and reflect on their own thoughts without feeling pressured to follow those of their teacher.
Conversations about health and well-being can also touch on one’s human rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The educator may need to explore some of the concepts around supporting a healthy school and community within the framework of citizenship responsibilities and rights, which include building physical and health literacy skills.
It’s important for educators to be proactive in examining these reflective and guiding questions to have optimal understanding of themselves and their students before examining any of the topics in a learning environment within health and physical education (H&PE). Once this is achieved, it’s the responsibility of the educator to promote open discussion with students by providing a safe, positive and confidential (if necessary) environment for students to discuss matters of their own experiences in relation to H&PE.