In-service physical education teachers: background and understanding of multicultural education

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate in-service physical education teachers' backgrounds and understanding of multicultural education. Data collection included the use of a survey questionnaire. This was given to physical education teachers who registered for a teacher's workshop at a southern university. In data analysis, a constant comparison qualitative technique was used (Goetz & LeCompte, 1984). The findings of the study revealed four themes: non-committal and non-directional orientation, acquisition of conceptual knowledge, awareness of cultural diversity through teaching and inclusive education. Other perspectives emerging from the findings are as follows: the majority of the teachers possessed little information concerning multicultural education as only a handful of them had been exposed to this kind of training in their teacher preparation programmes. Finally, the teachers expressed the need for more knowledge and experience in multicultural education in physical education.