CHAPTER 1 – PHYSICAL EDUCATION (6 hrs)

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.

 P.E and sports popular in Cretan culture

 Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey was a major literature source of information
 Music and gymnastics: “Exercise for the body and Music for the soul”
 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.
  Paidotribe: Similar to the present day physical educator
 Gymnasiarch: Chief official over gymnastics
776 B.C.

 First Olympic games; games continued every 4th year

700 B.C

 Indo-European people settled near Tiber River and settlement later became known as Rome
 Rome was for health and military purposes
 Athletic sport different in Rome than Greece, Romans wanted excitement, blood

DARK AGES

(476 A.D.)

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

 Physical and moral decay most outstanding breakdown in Roman fall
 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

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

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

1810-1858

 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
 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

 Gustaf Nyblaeus became the administrator of the RCI and women were admitted to the first time.
1820-1886

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

1777-1847

 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

 Niels Bukh developed the concept “primitive gymnastics” to build perfect physique.

GREAT BRITAIN

1820-1884

 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

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

 Dr. Lewis aimed at developing agility, grace of movement, flexibility, and improving general health
and posture.
 American sport began to achieve some degree of popularity.
 Modern Olympics was established by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. 1st president of the newly created
international Olympic Committee.
 First modern Olympics held in Athens: 28 events
 YMCA was founded at Springfield, Massachusetts
 YMCA was founded in Boston by Mrs. Henry Durant
 Organized physical education programs developed in the early’s 1850
 1885 what is now known as the AAHPERD association was organized.

Early Twentieth Century

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

 Thomas Dennison Wood – “Natural Gymnastics”
 Clark Hentherington – “Understanding of Children’s play activities in terms of survival and
continued participation”
 Robert Tait McKenzie – “Helped physically underdeveloped and atypical individuals overcome their
deficiencies”
 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
 Delphine Hanna-James H. McCurdy – published “The physiology of Exercise”
 Luther Gulick
 1906 Playground and recreation Association of America was est to promote development of rural and
urban playgrounds.
World War (1916 – 1919)

 Physical educators provided leadership for physical conditioning programs for the armed forces and
also those on the home front.
 A survey done reported, children of the nation were woefully subpar physically.
Golden Twenties (1920-1929)

 Physical Educators programs continued to expand

 National Federation of High School Athletic Associations was est. in 1923.
 During the depression manty gains in physical education were lost.
 40% of physical education programs were dropped.
 Also physical educators became involved in recreation programs.
(1940-1970)

 Division of Physical Education was set in the Office of Defense, Health, and Welfare Services
 War years had impact on programs of physical education in the nation’s schools and colleges
 Nearly 60% of the American children failed the fitness test compared to only 9% of European Children.
 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.
 International meetings were held including leaders of health, physical education, and recreation from
various parts of the world.
 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)

 Continued growth in the area of physical education and sport and a large part of growth is due to
technology.
 Programs have expanded from the school and college age population to serving populations of all ages.
 Improvements in health because of the importance placed on healthy life-style behaviors.
 Emphasized fitness, including both fitness development and understanding of the underlying fitness
concepts.
 Shift in emphasis from performance-related to health-related fitness
 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.
 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 activity stimulates in some degree the four types of
development although different activities emphasize different amounts. Regular exercise and physical
activity are extremely important and beneficial for long-term health and well-being.

HEALTH BENEFITS of EXERCISE and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

1. Reduce the risk of premature death.

2. Reduce the risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease.
3. Reduce high blood pressure or the risk of developing high blood pressure.
4. Reduce high cholesterol or the risk of developing high cholesterol.
5. Reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and breast cancer.
6. Reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
7. Reduce or maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints.
8. Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints.
9. Reduce depression and anxiety.
10. Improve psychological well-being.
11. Enhanced work, recreation, and sports performance.

What is PHYSICAL EDUCATION?

Physical Education existed before it was conceived as a science. It existed as a purposeful means of
existence. During the ancient time, physical activity is a necessity of life. But not unlike today, physical
education is formally taught. Physical Education gives chance to students to bring out their potential or how to
respond from a stimulus in a desirable way.

Physical Education (PE) is the interdisciplinary study of all areas of Science relating to the
transmission of physical knowledge and skills to an individual or a group, the application of these skills, and
their results.

Physical Education is an important segment of

general education which aims to contribute to the total
development of the larger through participation in selected
activities. It provides opportunities to acquire lifelong skills
that are essentials to his physical, mental, social, and
emotional development.

It can also be viewed as a program of activities in a

school curriculum that involves sports, games, dance,
gymnastics and recreational activities. Great emphasis is
placed on motor skills, fitness, health, recreation and
safety. It is the vital and integral part of general
education designed to promote the optimum
development (“FITNESS”) of the individual
physically, socially, emotionally, and mentally
through total body movement in the performance of properly selected physical activities.
 According to Moneghetti, 1993, Physical Education is the process through which sport, outdoor
education, dance, gymnastics, aquatics and games are used by the physical educators to teach students motor
skills and fitness skills as a well as assisting with the school’s responsibility to develop personal and social skills
in students. Physical Education is that phase of the whole process of education which is concerned with
vigorous muscular activities and related response, and with the modifications of the individual resultant from
these responses (Nixon and Cozens).

Objectives of Physical Education

The primary aims of Physical Education vary historically, based on the needs of the time and place.
Often, many different types of physical education occur simultaneously, some intentionally and others not.

Most modern school systems claim their intent is:

 To equip students with the knowledge, skills, capacities, and values along with the enthusiasm
 To maintain a healthy lifestyle into adulthood.

Some schools also require physical education as a way: To promote weight loss in students.

Activities included in the program are designed:

 To promote physical fitness

 To develop motor skills
 To instill knowledge and understanding of rules, concepts, and strategies, and
 To teach students to work as part of a team, or as individuals, in a wide variety of competitive
activities.

Physical Development/ PHYSICAL FITNESS

Physical Development covers the behavior that promote healthy
lifestyle which includes the regular exercise, balance diet, avoiding
drugs and alcohol. Physical development means developing a habit of
self-awareness including knowing the symptom of disease, getting
regular medical check-ups and avoiding that pose harms and danger to
oneself. If all these measures are taken, many years are added to our
lives and these years imply another experience.
 Maintain daily exercises.
 Follow safety measures.
 Practice safe sex.
 Take enough rest.
 Eat only healthy food and manage the intake.
 Don’t smoke and protect yourself from those who smoke.
 Don’t drink alcohol, if unavoidable, drink in moderation.
 Social Development / SOCIAL FITNESS
Participation in Physical Education activities provides opportunities for the acquisition and practice of
desirable social traits necessary for adjustment to happy living and to the social life in general. Some
worthwhile traits are:
SOCIAL TRAITS
 Friendliness
 Cooperation
 Respect for the rights of others
 Good sportsmanship
 Good leadership and followership
 Honesty in group competition

Emotional Development / EMOTIONAL FITNESS

The informal nature of physical education offers opportunities
for the development of expression and emotional traits needed for
emotional mastery like:
EMOTIONAL TRAITS
 Self Confidence
 Self-Control
 Courage
 Determination
 Personal Discipline

Mental Development / MENTAL FITNESS

Through participation in Physical Education activities the individual
develops his mental capacities as he learns the mechanical principles of
underlying movement, as the learner acquires knowledge and
understanding of rules and strategies of games and sports as well as
dance instructions, as he discovers ways of improving his gymnastics and
dance, and the ability to analyze and give judgements,
 Take much time
reading
 Encourage yourself to learn more languages
 Appreciate art
 Talk to people who are critical to your achievements or
work (if any)

Spiritual Development / SPRITUAL FITNESS

This anchored on something beyond what human senses can

perceive. This books on physical dimension of man, yet it recognizes the
development obtained from the spiritual source. This is about exploring
what one believes which really gives him a sense of meaning. The road
to spiritual development covers contemplation, prayer and other forms of practices that support man’s relation
to God. Each religion has its own system of prayer. Compassion, love and forgiveness and self-control help
you enjoy spiritual development. Only a person who observes spiritual development can change to some
meaning and purpose of life.
 Spend an hour alone in prayer
 Examine your spiritual side
 See if your values guide your decisions and actions

Reference: Physical Education 1 for College

F. 613.7 T918 2011 (Tulio, Doris D., Ph. D.)

LEGAL BASIS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Article 1. of the International Charter of Physical Education and Sports, UNESCO, Paris, 1978 and
Recommendation 1, Interdisciplinary Regional Meeting of Experts on Physical Education, UNESCO, Brisbane
Australia, 1982. States that:

“The practice of Physical Education and Sports is a fundamental right for all..”
“And this right should not be treated as different in principle from the right to adequate food, shelter,
and medical medical care.”

Article XIV, section 19, 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines-

(1) “The state shall promote Physical Education and encourage sports programs, league competitions,
and amateur sports including training for international competition to foster self-discipline,
teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry.”
(2) “All educational institutions shall undertake regular sports activities throughout the country in
cooperation with athletic clubs and other sectors.”

The state shall establish, maintain and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education
relevant to the needs of the people and society.