Physical education in change : A textual analysis of Sweden's curriculums from 1962 to 2022

Purpose and research questions: The purpose of our study was to investigate and highlight the development of the knowledge content within the subject of physical education and health. The starting point is based on the following research questions: 1) Which valid knowledge in the curricula from 1962 to 2022 has been consistently recurring, with a focus on the curriculum in the subject of physical education?, 2) How has valid knowledge changed in the curricula from 1962 to 2022, with a focus on the curriculum in physical education? Theory and method: The thesis was written based on a qualitative thematic text analysis to address the research topic. The material analyzed consisted of the national curricula for the Swedish elementary school from 1962 to 2022. The analysis was grounded in Linde's (2006, p.35) codes of classical, realistic, moral, and rational curriculum codes, as well as the concepts of performance codes and competence codes, to highlight how valid knowledge is classified into different categories within the selected curricula. Results: The subject aims to create physically active citizens. The subject also foster students ability to cooperate, camaraderie, discipline, and morals, although these aspects have diminished. In the earlier curricula, students were encouraged to strive for a well-trained body and move aesthetically beautifully. Now they are taught to adapt their movements to different activities. The view on gender shifted from students being expected to adapt their movements based on their gender to adapting them according to their own individual characteristics. Conclusion: The classical curriculum code has consistently been prominent. This has led to the idealization that students should learn to take responsibility for their health and live physically active lives, rather than striving for a specific physical appearance and movement style based on gender. Now, the focus is on adapting movement to individual ability and the purpose or goal of the movement. The moral curriculum code has changed from being important to disappearing, instead providing an overarching perspective on the entire school’s activities. Many of the changes in the curriculum have shifted from physical activity being about the group and society to focusing on the individual student.