PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Try AWeber's Email Marketing Tool Risk-Free

Watches: Sports & Outdoors

Physical Education is the part of the school curriculum that instructs students in BODY MOVEMENTS, SPORTS AND GAMES, AND OTHER PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES. In many countries, physical education is taught in both primary and secondary schools. 

It is also a subject on many college syllabuses. In many countries, degree courses or teaching diplomas exist in physical education. It is also an extremely important element in military training.

Physical education involves a wide variety of activities, including elementary system games, basic skills in movement (such as running or jumping) and exercises to improvement (such as running or jumping) and EXERCISES TO IMPROVE AND PROMOTE PHYSICAL FITNESS, MUSCLE TONE AND BODY CONDITION. Team sports, recreational activities such as swimming and creative movements such as dance and gymnastic exercises, all form important aspects of physical education as a discipline.

Physical education courses help build up physical fitness by allowing students to increase their ENDURANCE, STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY. Students learn about the effects of different movement activities on their bodies. They also learn exactly what level of strenuous physical activity their bodies can withstand.

Fit woman at the gym with a personal trainer

In primary school, physical education courses centre on helping children develop and understand basic body movements. They also include elementary games that emphasize participation and cooperation rather than competition. Dance activities and exercise done to music are also included. In the more advanced primary school classes, simple competition sports, games and exercises may be taught. Physical education teachers also lay the foundation of exercising for physical fitness and health. Secondary school physical education programmes continue and extend these activities and provide the basis of lifelong recreational and pursuits such as archery, athletics, badminton, cricket, cycling, golf, rugby, football, soccer, swimming and tennis. Many further education colleges and universities provide opportunities for continuing physical education.

History. 

Many expects trace the beginnings of physical education back to the ancient Greeks, who had organized physical educational programmes by the 700’s B.C. At educational establishments called gymnasia (gymnasiums), Greek boys took part in discus and javelin-throwing, jumping, running and wresting. They also received instruction in mathematics, philosophy and rhetoric. Although physical education was also an integral part of the general education of Roman citizens, its primary value was in military training.

In Europe in the Middle Age (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 bodybuilding activities.

In the 1800’s, physical education programmes were introduced into schools  in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, Germany and Swedish prorammes emphasized gymnastics and exercise routines. U. S.  programmes 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.