Topic 1: Legal Bases of Physical Education

Introduction:
Physical Education as a subject in the curriculum has been dejectedly uncared for in the
past and has suffered many setbacks due to misconceptions among the teachers and
administrators who, perhaps, never had the chance to be acquainted more about the field. It is,
therefore, necessary that this subject area be properly defined and interpreted so that it will
receive its rightful emphasis in the educational program.

In this topic, the students taking FIT HW Physical Activity Towards Health and Fitness
(Health and Wellness) as a required subject will comprehend better the meaning of Physical
Education and the coverage of the course. There is almost undisputed agreement that optimum
health is one’s most esteemed possession .Schopenhauer, the German philosopher expressed
this thought when he wisely remarked, “the greatest of follies is to neglect one’s health for any
advantage of life”.

A study of history of nations shows that advancement is directly related to the physical,
mental, and emotional health of the people. In the process of improving and maintaining
optimum health, It is necessary for all people of all ages to participate in physical exercise; there
is an ample variation in the types of exercise, which are recommended for different age group.

Physical Education: Definition, Goals, Objectives and Functions

Definition of Physical Education

Physical Education has undergone many vicissitudes and numerous changes of path in
the Philippine schools. There was a time when Physical Education was considered as education
of the physical, hence, a muscular physique was considered as a physical educated body. The
activities then were termed as “drill”, “physical training” and “calisthenics”. This old concept of
physical education would in all respect mean today as strengthen the muscles.

The newer and modern perception of physical education is that it is education through
physical activities . In modern physical education idiom, it is education trough “movement”
Wunderlich (1967) describes of movement as follows:

1. It provides sensory data.

2. It broadens the perspective horizon.
3. It stimulates function and structure of all bodily organs.
4. It is the means by which an individual learns about himself in relation to his ambient
environment.
 What “education through movement” more particularly entails is the taking of that culture
based family of activities and processes- games, dance, gymnastics, athletic, sports, and
outdoor pursuits- as a means “through’ which the teacher can help effect enviable outcomes,
despite the consequences of whether or not those activities have essential worth of their own.

Functions of Physical Education

Physical Education performs three functions which are:

1. Biologic Function – refers to the enhancement of the individuals’ growth and development
through body movement.
2. Integrative Function – refers to the personality integration achieved through participation in
properly selected physical activities.
3. Social Function – consists of transmitting values and standards that are consistent with the
needs and ideals of the society.

All in all, Physical Education as education “through” movement is best conceived of as

being that component of the educational process which aims to improve and complement the
individual chiefly through professionally selected and directed physical activities.

Fitness – A Major Goal of Physical Education

Different people differ in their notion of fitness. In the field of Physical Education, the
concept of fitness has implications for physical, social, emotional and mental well-being. In view
of these four aspects, it can be said that FITNESS is the ability to live a healthy, satisfying, and
useful life. This type of life is what the education philosophers and thinkers term as the “good
life”. This is the ultimate goal of education.

To live the “good life” means that an individual satisfies the basic needs as physical well
being, love affection, security and self respect. He lives blissfully with other people and is
interested in them. He has an interest and yearning to serve humanity and believers in and
exemplifies high ethiclal standard. Because of his secure relationship with people and future
events, he lives a remarkable life.

Physical Education as a component of the educational system strives to aid or facilitate the
development of an individual so that he can achieve total fitness to allow him to enjoy the “good
life”. Therefore, a major goal of physical education is FITNESS.
Objectives of Physical Education

The following objectives of Physical Education are viewed and stated in terms of their
contributions to the outcomes of education and in the curriculum.

1. Physical Development Through cautiously selected physical education activities, an

individual who participates energetically will develop and maintain good health and a high level
of physical fitness. The attainment of physical skills can motivate an individual who participates
further in physical activities; hence, his growth and development will be improved.

2. Social Development Involvement in Physical Education activities provides opportunities for

the development of enviable social traits needed for adjustment to the social life in general
-friendliness
-cooperation
-respect for the rights of others
- good sportsmanship
-good leadership and followership
-honesty in group competition

3. Emotional Development The informal nature of physical educationactivities offers

opportunities for self-expression and emotional mastery. Examples of worthwhile emotional trait
are:
-self-confidence
-self-control
-self-reliance
-courage
-determination

4. Mental Development Through participation in physical education activities, the individual

develops his mental capacities as he learns the mechanical principles of underlying movement,
as he obtain knowledge and understanding of the rules and strategies of the games and sports,
and he discovers way of improving his movement in gymnastics and dance.

Directions of Physical education

“All our educational efforts must be directed towards the development of our nation goals
as a developing country”. The focus, contained in the Presidential Decree No.6-A is entitled
“Education Development Decree of 1972” the goal of which are:

1. To achieve and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and social progress.
2. To assure the maximum participation of all the people in the attainment and enjoyment of the
benefit of such growth.
3. To strengthen national consciousness and promote desirable cultural values in the changing
world.
 The foregoing development goals must itself offer direction to the teaching of physical
education. How will Physical Education teacher lend significance to these goals? What can the
Physical Education teacher do to contribute to the attainment of the goals? The answers to
these questions will come to the fore when the purposes of physical education have been well
understood.

Purposes of Physical Education

The Physical Education specialist in our country have identified the following purposes of
Physical Education:

1. To develop optimum physical fitness and health of the individual so that he is capable of living
the “good life” and contributing his maximum capacity to the attainment of the goals of the “New
Society”.

2. To produce individuals who can contribute to the economic well- being through:

a. the improvement of proper work habits and work attitudes such as punctuality, cooperation,
reliability, precision and accuracy, and open-mindedness
b. proper emphasis on problem-solving skills necessary or useful in the business world;

3. To attain good leaders with moral integrity of the highest order, and develop other desirable
traits necessary for effective group participation or group living essential to the New Society
through:

a. an adequate system of values by equipping the individual to be able to make moral choices
or decisions needed in daily living; and
b. offering group participation in such experiences as intramural, extramural, play days or sports
fests;

4. To develop creativity and innovativeness inspired by an abiding faith in God and love of
country and fellowmen; and

5. To install a love of and pride for their preservation, and develop an understanding of the
culture of other for a feeling of international brotherhood and unity.