Arnold wanted X but we got Y – the Queensland senior physical education syllabus application of the Arnoldian perspective

Background:For over two decades, the Queensland Curriculum andAssessment Authority (QCAA) has used Arnold’s tri-dimensionalperspective of movement (1979, 1988) as a framework for its seniorPhysical Education (PE) syllabus documents (1998, 2004, 2010, and2018). As the most recent version, the Queensland Senior PhysicalEducation Syllabus-2019 (QSPES) cites Arnold’s perspective as‘aphilosophical and educative framework to promote deep learning inthree dimensions: about, through and in movement contexts’(QCAA2018, 1), it is reasoned these principles will be evident throughout thisAustralian state syllabus.Purpose:The purpose of this paper is to examine the claimed adherenceto the Arnoldian perspective in the QSPES (QCAA2018) as stated in itscurriculum intention statement (see QCAA2018, 1).Discussion:The authors suggest that a reinterpretation of Arnold’sintention has occurred in the application of his perspective to theQSPES (QCAA2018) and suggest what may occur as a consequence ofthis reinterpretation.Conclusion:We conclude by discussing the potential effects of thisreoriented view of Arnold’s perspective on students, teachers, and PE ingeneral. The discussion highlights a familiar story of PE attempting tolegitimise itself through science and academia and how in most casesthe warnings against such validation have fallen on deaf ears.