History of PE

Point of Emphasis  This is the only course that will address PE history, a topic included on the Praxis II exam.

Q&A  What can you tell me about the history of physical education? Background? Influences (Socio- cultural?)

 Current Physical Education is the latest rendition of all the changes that have taken place over time.  Why is this important?  A: Throughout their history in the U.S., k-12 physical education programs have tended to reflect larger patterns in American culture, people’s needs and choices regarding physical activity, and trends in the educational system. As you will see, the goals, content, and instruction in physical education have evolved and will continue to grow in ways that call for new approaches.

Overview of History  Colonial Period (late 1700’s to mid 1800’s)  No formalized physical education  Fitness through survival, hunting, work, little leisure time  Emergence of gymnastic systems  Late 19th Century  Physical training, emergence of sport  Transitional Period ( )  Formalized curriculum  Accepted methodology  Acceptance ( )  Accepted into the mainstream school curriculum

Late 1700’s, Early 1800’s  Late 1700’s – PE had a military flavor  1823 Freidrich Ludwig Jahn’s “Turnverein” concepts introduced to the U.S.  Turnverein – Social Gymnastics also known as German Gymnastics  German System used heavy gymnastics “violent and exhausting in nature”

German Turnverein

The Battle for System Dominance !  German System  Swedish System  Beecher System  Hitchcock System  Sargent System

1856 Catherine Beecher  Mother of American PE  1852 founded the American Women’s Education Association  Women’s physical training – published a manual of physiology and calisthenics  Calisthenics  Light exercises for health and beauty

Typical 1800’s gymnasium

MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY  Puritan ethic was a prominent influence on how PE was viewed.  Conflict between religion and the body  MC – a philosophy that made exercise and fitness compatible with the tenets of the faith.

PRIOR TO 1885 PHYSICAL EDUCATION (in the broad sense) DID NOT EXIST AS FORMAL FIELD OF EDUCATION!!!!

1885  Adelphi Conference (1885) – Participants pledge to improve the profession and increase its standing. The Association for the Advancement of Physical Education is formed (forerunner of AAHPERD).  Names for PE: Gymnastics, physical training, sport, physical education

Early 1900’s  Decline of religious opposition  Immigration – introduced new activities  Urbanization, transportation, and war dispersed activities  Growth of leisure time  Intercollegiate athletic conferences  Curb abuses like betting (1 st one - Big Ten)  Comprehensive Education  John Dewey; progressive education

Early 1900’s  Still emphasis on military-like physical training exercises (i.e. calisthenics) 1918

Posture Exercises

Late 1800’s, Early 1900’s  Noticeable shift  “PE” began diversifying its content to include sports  Still included militaristic, calisthenics like exercises but emphasis was waning  Culture of Physical Training gave way to Physical Education  Formalized PE curriculum began developing  Accepted methodology

Formal Recognition  Umbrella term – Physical Education  Included dance, health education, intramurals, camping, playgrounds, recreation, outdoor education, YMCA/YWCA.  NEA officially recognizes physical education as curricular field.

Q&A  What sports were invented in the US? Typically during the late 1800’s & early 1900’s but also into today? Some have their roots in sports from abroad.  Lacrosse (<1630, Native Americans)  Baseball/Softball (Cartwright, ~1845, NYC)  Football (Camp, ~1875, New Haven CT)  Basketball (Naismth, 1891, Springfield, MA)  Volleyball (Morgan, 1895, Holyoke MA)  Mountain Biking (Californnia)  Pickleball (Bell and Pritchard, 1965, WA state)

La-crosse

Basketball History

1920’s – 30’s  PE became an accepted subject.  States passed mandatory PE laws  Teacher education developed  Graduate study began  Sport continued to dominate American pop culture 1940’s  Half of WWII military recruits were unfit for duty; concern for fitness  Adapted PE took off due to wounded vets

Sport Takes Over Biggest influence of the 1900’s was sport! Now many programs began to include Basketball, Football, Baseball, Field Hockey, Swimming, Racket Sports, and some “Outing Activities”

1950’s  Eisenhower formed the President's Council on Youth Fitness  Article portrayed American kids as weak. 60% failed fitness test compared to 6% of European kids  Kennedy spoke openly about the need to improve their fitness levels, including writing an article in Sports Illustrated entitled "The Soft American"

Late 20th Century  Recreation, sport and fitness still the main focus.  Concerns that not all students needs being met  Developed dance further, introduced alternative education.  Fitness boomed with running, aerobics (Cooper), and rope jumping

Kenneth Cooper  “Father of the Modern Fitness Movement”  Worked with NASA to help create astronaut conditioning program  Developed the 12-minute and 1.5-mile fitness tests & the Aerobics Point System  Publication of Aerobics in 1960’s  Disease prevention thru aerobic exercise  Cooper Institute (developed Fitnessgram)

Late 20th Century  Title IX (1972) began addressing gender inequity

Fitness Craze (80’s)  Increase in emphasis  Health/looks  Have’s and have not's  Trim/athletic  Obese/SES

Curriculum Additions to PE  Adventure/Cooperative (late 60’s)  Outward bound, project adventure, team challenge  Movement Education (70’s)  Teaching games for understanding-tactical (1986)  Hellison’s model of social responsibility (1995)  Sport education (1994)  Wellness/fitness (1990’s)  Holistic/proactive (body, mind, spirit)  Lifetime activity

Today  Sub-disciplines  Exercise physiology  Biomechanics  Motor learning  Sport psychology  Sport history/philosophy

Subdisciplines  Anatomy  The physical structure of an animal

Subdisciplines  Kinesiology  Study of movement (human in our case)

Subdisciplines  Biomechanics  Study of the human body as a mechanical system, utilizes principles drawn from physics.  No specific course, incorporated throughout

Subdisciplines  Physiology  Functions and activities of living organisms, including all physical and chemical processes.

Subdisciplines  Exercise physiology  Study of bodily systems and their reactions to stress of exercise.

Subdiscplines  Motor Learning Focuses on how motor skills are learned. Areas: motor learning, control, development Categories  Initial  Elementary  Mature

Subdisciplines  Sport Psychology  Study of sport and psychological issues in sport  Intervention examples: Relaxation, cue control, mental imaging, coping, desensitization

Kinesiology  Umbrella term for the total discipline of sport and exercise.

Today-“New PE”  Not a specific program or curriculum but a philosophy of being more inclusive and lifetime oriented. Began in 90’s and is considered the norm today.  Covered in more depth later

Today: Down Sides  Reduction of time allotted PE  Disparities in instruction  Roll out the ball “gym teachers”  Marginalization  NCLB

Today: Positive Side  Increasing fitness and wellness focus  More lifetime activities; inclusivity  Improved status  Engine for reduction in obesity and diabetes  Greater recognition of the importance of physical activity in many facets of life

Leaders in the Field  George Graham, PSU  PECentral  Children Moving  Judy Rink, USC  Standards  South Carolina Physical Education Assessment Program (SCPEAP) Many others too

Depends on You

Webquest HW  Due