1.

Physical Education

Overview of the Lesson

Life is not only an art but it is not only academic or simply a sport. Life is the wholeness of all the
options. It is the core for giving Physical Education great emphasis in all academic disciplines. Every
academic discipline has its own area of concern. Language is concerned on communication;
mathematics is concerned on numbers and so-on. Physical Education encompasses all these things. A
poor physical education could never absorb math, language and so on. It is always the physical condition
of the person that matters.

This module combines the prerequisite courses of Physical Education 1 with descriptive title
Physical Fitness and Wellness includes these topics: In Chapter I; Introduction of Physical Education,
Meaning, Objectives of P.E, Legal Basis of P.E, Physical Education Program, and Meaning of Physically
Educated Person.

Physical Education is extremely a student centered course. Students are expected to undergo into
all the physical activities designed in this book. At the same time, students are expected to answer all
the written activities provided for at the end of every chapter.

Historical Foundation of Physical Education

Modern Physical Education activities are based on the natural physical education of primitive
times. Even the more recent activities, when analyzed, are found to be developed from natural
activities. Many experts trace the beginnings of physical education back to the Ancient Greeks, who had
organized physical education programs by the 700’s B.C. at educational establishments called
“gymnasia” (gymnasium), Greeks boys took part in discus and javelin throwing, jumping, running and
wrestling. They also received instruction in mathematics, philosophy, and rhetoric. Although physical
education was part of the general education of the Roman Citizens, its primary value was in military
training.
 In Europe in the Middle Ages (from the 400’s to the 1500’s) many sports and other physical
activities were considered sinful. During the Renaissance, which lasted from the 1300’s to the 1600’s, a
revival of interest in Greek and Roman culture brought a return to competition and fitness sports and
body building activities. In the 1800’s, physical education programs were introduced into schools in
Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. German and Swedish programs
emphasized gymnastics and exercise routines. The British programs laid stress on team sports. US
programs borrowed from all these European sources. The most important development in the 1900’s
was the large-scale provision of physical education courses for girls and for people with disabilities.

“GOLDEN AGE” 2500 B.C.

v P.E and sports popular in Cretan culture

v Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey was a major literature source of information

v Music and gymnastics: “Exercise for the body and Music for the soul”

v City States: Greece composed of and influenced political aspects and objectives of P.E. and sport.
Sparta contributed to strong and powerful army. Athens engaged in P.E. to develop bodies and the value
of life in general.

v Paidotribe: Similar to the present day physical educator

v Gymnasiarch: Chief official over gymnastics

776 B.C.

v First Olympic games; games continued every 4th year

700 B.C

v Indo-European people settled near Tiber River and settlement later became known as Rome

v Rome was for health and military purposes

v Athletic sport different in Rome than Greece, Romans wanted excitement, blood

DARK AGES

(476 A.D.)

v Fall if Roman Empire, referred to period in history as the Dark Ages

v Physical and moral decay most outstanding breakdown in Roman fall

v Teutonic invasion supported physical activity with two movements “ascetism” and “scholasticism”.
Ascenticism: Believe evil exists in the body and should subordinate to the spirit, which is pure;
Scholasticism: Believe facts are most essential items of education
EUROPE

Germany

1774

v Johann Bernhard Basedow established the Philanthropinum, the first school in Europe to offer
physical education as a part of the curriculum.

v Johann Friedrich Guts Muths succeded Christian Carl Andre as the instructor of Physical Education at
the Schnepfenthal Educational Institute. He is often referred to as one of the founders of modern
physical education.

1778-1852

v Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. Established the Turnverein, as an association of gymnasts that exist today.

1810-1858

v Adolph Spiess founded the school of gymnastics in Germany and helped to make physical education
part of a school program. He believed that the school should be interested in the total growth of the
child such as mentally, emotionally, physically and socially. He believed that physical education should
receive the same consideration as other subjects.

SWEDEN

1776-1839
v Per Henrick Ling strove to make physical education a science and developed the Royal Central
Institute of Gymnastics where physical educators could receive training. He utilized the sciences of
anatomy and physiology to determine such things as the effect of exercise on the heart, musculature,
and different systems of the body.

1816-1902

v Gustaf Nyblaeus became the administrator of the RCI and women were admitted to the first time.

1820-1886

v A law was passed requiring a physical education course on the Secondary Level

DENMARK

1777-1847

v Franz Nachtegall played a large part in introducing physical education into public schools of Denmark
and into teacher preparation. He eventually became the Director of the Gymnasts for all of Denmark. In
1799, he established the first outdoor gymnasium devoted completely to physical training

1880-1950

v Niels Bukh developed the concept “primitive gymnastics” to build perfect physique.
GREAT BRITAIN

1820-1884

v Archibald McLaren wanted to make physical education a science, and in 1860, hec was designated a
system of Physical Education for the British Amry.

UNITED STATES

Civil War period until 1900

v Catherine Beecher founded the American Women’s Educational Association.

v Dr. Lewis aimed at developing agility, grace of movement, flexibility, and improving general health and
posture.

v American sport began to achieve some degree of popularity.

v Modern Olympics was established by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. 1st president of the newly created
international Olympic Committee.

v First modern Olympics held in Athens: 28 events

v YMCA was founded at Springfield, Massachusetts

v YMCA was founded in Boston by Mrs. Henry Durant

v Organized physical education programs developed in the early’s 1850

v 1885 what is now known as the AAHPERD association was organized.

Early Twentieth Century

v Famous people in physical education in the early 20th century were:

v Thomas Dennison Wood – “Natural Gymnastics”

v Clark Hentherington – “Understanding of Children’s play activities in terms of survival and continued
participation”

v Robert Tait McKenzie – “Helped physically underdeveloped and atypical individuals overcome their
deficiencies”

v Jessie H. Bancroft – contributed to the field of posture and body mechanics and was the first living
member of AAPER to receive the Gulick Award

v Delphine Hanna-James H. McCurdy – published “The physiology of Exercise”

v Luther Gulick

v 1906 Playground and recreation Association of America was est to promote development of rural and
urban playgrounds.
World War (1916 – 1919)

v Physical educators provided leadership for physical conditioning programs for the armed forces and
also those on the home front.

v A survey done reported, children of the nation were woefully subpar physically.

Golden Twenties (1920-1929)

v Physical Educators programs continued to expand

v National Federation of High School Athletic Associations was est. in 1923.

v During the depression manty gains in physical education were lost.

v 40% of physical education programs were dropped.

v Also physical educators became involved in recreation programs.

(1940-1970)

v Division of Physical Education was est in the Office of Defense, Health, and Welfare Services

v War years had impact on programs of physical education in the nation’s schools and colleges
v Nearly 60% of the American children failed the fitness test compared to only 9% of European Children.

v New steps were taken to engage in developing a greater opportunity for girls and women to engage in
competitive sports at both high schools and college levels.

v International meetings were held including leaders of health, physical education, and recreation from
various parts of the world.

v Programs for individuals with disabilities was organized and in 1968 the Special Olympics

provided competitive sports for these individuals. Research became specialized, in the fields of exercise
physiology, motor learning, sociology of sport, and pedagogy.

(1970 – Present)

v Continued growth in the area of physical education and sport and a large part of growth is due to
technology.

v Programs have expanded from the school and college age population to serving populations of all
ages.

v Improvements in health because of the importance placed on healthy life-style behaviors.

v Emphasized fitness, including both fitness development and understanding of the underlying fitness
concepts.
v Shift in emphasis from performance-related to health-related fitness

v 1988 – Introduced the fitness test used to test five components of fitness, cardiovascular endurance,
body composition, flexibility, and upper body and abdominal strength and endurance.

v Health-Related benefits could be obtained at more moderate levels of activity intensity than
previously realized. The value of physical education activities is found in the resulting development and
adjustment of the individual. Engaging in any