The recent research is a part of ongoing in-service physical education teachers training development and piloting phase in Latvia that is conceived to elaborate educational training activities in connection with the theme “Pestalozzi Programme”, Council of Europe Training Programme for education professionals “Physical education and Sport for Democracy and Human rights (SPORT)”.  “Pestalozzi Programme” aims at a sustainable change of practice, (individual and societal) through its training activities. The basic standards and values of the Council of Europe are the democracy, human rights and the rule of law (Huber; Mompoint-Gaillard, 2011).  

Educational thinking in the teacher profession by their nature is based on the assumption of educational and developmental potential of the learner's personality quality improvement opportunities.  Constructivism suggests learning is experiential in that people create knowledge and draw meaning from that knowledge through their own experiences and ideas (Dewey, 1998). The status of the profession enhancement based on a democratic ideology of teacher professionalism (Chroinin, Tormey, O'Sullivan, 2012).  One of the most important features of democracy – the fact of living together as equals having the same rights and opportunities to participate in social and political life – is that it needs to let its citizens develop an awareness of their personal dignity and autonomy, as well as mutual respect and acknowledgement (Huber; Pascale Mompoint-Gaillard, 2011).

According to research of Rubene, Geikina and Svence (2008) the main features of post – Soviet space can be described as a lack of democratic personalities, inability to accept democratic values and changes as a natural part of democratization processes, conviction believe in one true way, explicit polarization of the society, civic passivity and an authoritarian attitude towards life. The current global economic and financial crises in the Baltic countries more often raise the questions for people about the democratic forces and the quality of life in the European Union, because like other post-Soviet space countries life experience in a democratic society is relatively small. Democracy building is a broad-based and complicated human endeavor, difficult to depict properly (Demeš, 2010).  And the values, which school and family should promote in the context of the European Union, are not comprehensible and acceptable for all parents and teachers, who are significantly influenced by ideological heritage. However, this treatment is based on our own ignorance or unwillingness to understand and critically analyze social processes, our desire to hide from the changes in the modern society which affects all of us (Rubene, 2010). 

Research question: What is physical education teachers understanding of democracy?

Purpose: research physical education teachers understanding of democracy of the values context within the Council of Europe. 

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