Teacher specialist students in physical education

Professional practice and recognition of the student

Abstract

In the article, we discuss how physical education teachers studying the teacher specialist course reflect on their own professional practice. The article is a qualitative document analysis based on pedagogical creed written by the informants. We interpret this material in the light of Axel Honneth's theory of recognition. A main finding in the study is that they emphasize the student’s perspective, when they express their thoughts about their own professional practice in physical education. They deepen this perspective by emphasizing both the unconditional form of recognition, love, and the social recognition, which emphasizes the development of the students' abilities and aptitudes. When it comes to the dimension of love, they express how important it is to strive to see the students and facilitate a safe and inclusive learning environment. When it comes to social recognition, it is the students' mastery of the subject that is emphasized. The findings are in line with other research, which shows that many of the teachers' ideas about their teaching professionalism are formed on the basis of their own professional practice, and that the human dimension in the teacher-student relationship is central.