Chapter 4

Basic Concepts of
Physical Education

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

 Education Through
the Physical
• 20th Century developmental model
• Model consistent with Progressive
Education Theory
• Clark Hetherington known as “father of
modern physical education” developed
four objectives:
1. physical development
2. motor development
3. mental development
4. social development
• Standards were developed around the
four objectives for PE curriculum

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

 Education Through
the Physical, cont’d
• Multi-activity Program approach
• Wide variety of activities used to fulfill the
promise of total development
• Officially sanctioned in 1927 and became
a “national curriculum” for PE
• Units or blocks approach developed by La
Porte, lasting several weeks
• AAHPER (1971), modified
Hetherington’s four objectives into five
primary concepts which reflected
goals of Physical Education to the
public

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

NASPE’s Influence on Curriculum
Standards
• National Association for Sport and Physical
Education (1990) developed a set of goals and
standards for PE
• The published outcomes became a consensus
statement that defined a “physically educated
person”
• Established a content standard for PE
programs in schools
• Established teacher-friendly guidelines for
assessment

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

 Other Important
Curriculum Influences

• Movement Education a.k.a. Human

Movement philosophy
• Purpose
• teach student to move effectively
• become aware of meaning of movement as
participant and observer
• gain/apply knowledge that governs human
movement

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

 Other Important
Curriculum Influences, cont’d
• Health-related physical education
(Fitness model)
• Purpose
• influence a physically active lifestyle that
prevents hypokinetic diseases
• Academic Integration Model
(kinesiological studies blend)
• Purpose
• provide information and strategies for
incorporating knowledge in all aspects of
the classrooms

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

 Other Important
Curriculum Influences, cont’d
• Social Development Model
(Humanistic education)
• Purpose
• help young people better cope with a
complex social world through a 5-level
progression system (see pp.62-64)
• Sport Education Model (Play
education)
• Purpose
• playful competition through 5 different
sport seasons

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

 Other Important
Curriculum Influences, cont’d
• Adventure Education Approach
(Adventure activities)
• Purpose
• education through outdoor and wilderness
activities which involves some aspect of
risk
• Eclectic Curriculum (mixture of
curriculum models)
• Purpose
• offer a large variety of activities to ensure a
quality program

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Physical Education for Students with
Disabilities
• Roots go back to the 1920’s when students
stricken from 1915-17 polio epidemic
entered public schools
• Needed for rehabilitation purposes
• Federal laws have created further growth
(i.e., 1990 American with Disabilities Act)
• PL 94-142 singled out Physical Education
for disabled population
• 3 types of programs
1. Adapted
2. Corrected
3. Developmental

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

State Requirements for Physical
Education
• No federal laws require Physical Education to
be taught in schools
• Each state has its own definition regarding PE
mandate
• Individual schools interpret each state’s
mandate
• State laws and guidelines are weak for
Elementary levels compared to further grades

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Significant Changes that Affect
Physical Education Curriculum

• Liability
• Title IX

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.