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The values of physical education trainees in Singapore
Citation
Aplin, N. (1999, November/December). The values of physical education trainees in Singapore [Paper presentation]. NZARE-AARE Joint Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Author
Aplin, Nick
Abstract
The issue of the relationship between values and the pursuit of national goals is a common issue in Singapore. The purpose of this study was to examine how the prevailing value systems that guide the decision making of Singaporeans might be implicated in the presentation of physical education programmes. It is argued that personal values represent a common mediating influence on the pursuit of goals associated with sport and physical education and as such represent an important element in maintaining the culture of physical activity in sport as it exists in Singapore. A conceptual design based on the Values Model developed by Schwartz (1992, 1995) was used to analyse of individual value systems of physical education trainees at the National Institute of Education. Preliminary findings suggest that values associated with Self-Enhancement and Openness to Change are more positively representative of a physical education and sport culture than values linked with traditional beliefs concerning Self-Transcendence and Conservation. These findings highlight the potential conflicts that confront the teacher, who wishes to promote both sub-cultural values and national values.
Date Issued
November 1999