EDI in Health and Physical Education Breaking down the ‘what’ and ‘how’ ... so you can find your ‘why’ By Audra Walters @audra_walt
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quity, diversity, and inclusion … also referred to as EDI. You’ve probably heard this phrase used more frequently in the last few years, but are you still unsure about what it really means and how it is relevant to health and physical education? SHAPE America’s vision is a nation where all children are prepared to lead healthy, physically active lives. But it’s not possible to carry out this vision — no matter how hard we try — unless we center our work around the painful reality that not all children have access to the same opportunities to succeed. It’s no secret that there are some challenges regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion in education, and the health and physical education field is no exception. There continues to be a marked difference in the racial diversity of public school students compared to the diversity of the teachers who serve them. Our role as a national organization is to lead and support change. We know how important representation is, which is why we must work toward the
goal of having all students feel a sense of belonging in health and physical education classes through culturally sustaining instruction. In addition, we want all health and physical educators to feel a sense of belonging and empowerment within their school
environment and their professional membership organization. But before we can work together to achieve this vision, it’s important to define what equity, diversity, and inclusion mean for this work. (continued on next page) Fall 2021 • Momentum
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