“Are we there yet?” An Examination of Teacher Diversity Within Canada’s Physical and Health Education Community

Authors

  • Lauren Sulz University of Alberta
  • Melanie Davis PHE Canada
  • Dipal Damani D&D Inclusion Consulting

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine teacher diversity within Canada’s Physical and Health Education (PHE) community. In particular, we gathered information on gender identity, sexual orientation, disability and racial identity of teachers within the PHE community and compared this information to the Canadian population and the Canadian teacher population. Overall, the proportion of teachers within the PHE community from historically underrepresented groups were disproportionately low in comparison to the Canadian population and the Canadian teacher population on most diversity features. Our results showed similarity between PHE teacher’s sexual orientation and the Canadian population. Further, results showed similarity between PHE teachers who identified as Metis and visible minority to that of the Canadian teacher population. The paper concludes with a discussion on ‘calls to action’ to achieve a fuller match between Canada’s dis/ability, racially and culturally diverse populations and Physical and Health Educators.

Keywords: racial identity; gender identity; equity; teacher education

Author Biographies

Lauren Sulz, University of Alberta

Lauren Sulz is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education Department of Secondary Education at the University of Alberta. 

Melanie Davis, PHE Canada

Melanie Davis is Executive Director of Physical and Health Education Canada,

Dipal Damani, D&D Inclusion Consulting

Dipal Damani is the Founder and President of D&D Inclusion Consulting, an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) consulting firm

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Published

2023-03-01

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2023): PHEnex Journal

Section

Feature Articles / Articles de fond

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