History of PE

History of PE
Point of Emphasis
 This
is the only course that will address
PE history, a topic included on the
Praxis II exam.
 Current
Physical Education is the
latest rendition of all the changes
that have taken place over time.

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. The goals,
content, and instruction in physical education have evolved
and will continue to grow in ways that call for new
approaches.
Ancient Times

No formal PE, activity through work, dance
or game play
 Gymnasium – Greece word for training
ground (Pompeii image below)
 From gymnos – Greek for “naked”
 Palaestrae – private wrestling schools in
Greece
PE in U.S. – Early American

Mid 1700’s – 1900



Emphasis on physical training, also called gymnastics
Many different systems
German system: vigorous calisthenics with hand
weights, “indian clubs”, ropes, ladders, parallel and
horizontal bars, brings, vaulting poles and balance
activities. Music and rhythms (usually drumbeats)
accompanied the exercises.
PE in U.S. – Early American

Swedish System – more scientific and thearapuetic
focusing on improving heart and lung function also
using much of the same equipment as the German
system.


Many other systems, only included two most prominent
1886 – California becomes first state to require
physical training as part of public school curriculum
Typical 1800’s gymnasium
Harvard University
Pratt Gym, Amherst College, MA
PE in U.S. – Early American
 Catherine
Beecher
 Developed
her own system that focused more
on “beautiful and strong movements performed
to music to help produce good posture,
strength and grace.”
 Many light exercises that involved holding
positions (yoga-esque)
 Did not use equipment as this not lady-like
 “Mother” of American PE
PE in U.S. – Early American
 Dudley
Sargent
 Combined
several of the systems
 Modified and developed adjustable exercise
machines using pulley systems to lift or pull
weights
 Fought to put physical education on par with
other subject areas
1885

Adelphi Conference, NY (1885) – Participants
pledge to improve the profession and increase
its standing. The Association for the
Advancement of Physical Education was
formed (forerunner of SHAPE).
 Names for PE: Gymnastics, physical
training, sport, physical education
Early American Period (19001930)
Immigration – introduced new activities
 Urbanization, transportation, and war
dispersed activities
 Growth of leisure time
 Intercollegiate athletic conferences



Curb abuses like betting (1st one - Big Ten)
Comprehensive Education

John Dewey; progressive education, learn by
doing and experimenting
Early American Period (19001930)

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 begins to develop
 More states began requiring PE
Posture Exercises
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlZgMkaC5A
Early American Period (19001930)
 Umbrella
term – Physical Education
 Included
dance, health education,
intramurals, camping, playgrounds,
recreation, outdoor education,
YMCA/YWCA.
 NEA
officially recognizes physical
education as curricular field.
th
Mid-20





Century (1930-70)
WWII – an unacceptable number of recruits were
declared unfit for combat
A much higher percentage of American children were
unfit compared to European peers (60% v. 6%)
President’s Council on Youth Fitness established,1956
John F. Kennedy publishes “The Soft American” in S.I.
Pres. Johnson creates the Presidential Youth Fitness
Award program, 1966 (today: President’s Challenge)

Combined with Fitnessgram ~2010
th
Mid-20



Century (1930-70)
PE beginning to incorporate more adventure
programming, lifetime activities, dance and outdoor
pursuits
Creation of the first instructional model - movement
education in 60’s and 70’s
Physical education research begins being published by
university faculty
Late





Century (1970-2000)
Development of national standards


th
20
NASPE developed a document defining what children
should know and be able to do (1986)
1995 – NASPE publishes “Moving Into the Future: National
Standards for Physical Education”
Fruits of academic research seen in the New PE
Physical Education begins splitting into subdisciplines and various fields specialize (more later)
Development of all instructional models except
movement education (what are they)
Cooper Institute releases Fitnessgram (1991)
Late

th
20
Century (1970-2000)
Adventure/Cooperative (late 60’s, 70’s)

Outward bound, project adventure, team challenge

Tactical or Teaching games for understanding
(1986)
 Hellison’s model of social responsibility (1995)
 Sport education (1994)
 Wellness/fitness (1990’s)


Holistic/proactive (body, mind, spirit)
Lifetime activity
Late 20th Century (1970-2000)

Title IX (1972) began addressing gender
inequity in sport and PE
 Coed classes became the norm (quite a shock
for some)

Q&A – when is it OK to have same-sex classes
Late 20th Century (1970-2000)

Individuals with Disability Education Act
(1990)


Least restrictive environment; IEPs
No Child Left Behind (1991) – schools must
show improvement in core subjects
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
Early
st
21
Century (2000-
 Downsides:
 Reduction

Partly due to increased emphasis on highstakes tests
 Disparities

of time allotted PE
in instruction
Roll out the ball “gym teachers”
 Waivers/exemptions
for PE
Early
st
21
Century (2000-
 Positives:
 Increased
lifetime activity and fitness focus
 Improved status (room to grow)
 Seen as engine for promoting PA and
reducing obesity and diabetes
 Greater recognition of the importance of
physical activity in many facets of life

Play 60, CDC recommendations, School Board
Early
st
21
Century (2000-
 Positives:
 Publication
of detailed national standards
by grade level
 Refocusing mission on HPE (SHAPE)
 Emphasis on assessment and data
collection
 On cusp of being listed as core subject
 Increased PE mandates in several states
Q&A

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsports.htm
What sports were invented in the US? Some have
their roots in sports from abroad.
 Lacrosse (<1630, Native Americans)
 Baseball/Softball (Cartwright, ~1845, NYC)
 Football (~1820, Rutgers/Princeton 1869; Camp)
 Basketball (Naismth, 1891, Springfield, MA)
 Volleyball (Morgan, 1895, Holyoke MA)
 Mountain Biking (Californnia)
 Pickleball (Bell and Pritchard, 1965, WA state)
 Ultimate (1968, Joel Silver, a student at Columbia
High School in Maplewood, NJ )
La-crosse
Basketball History
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io35RCBMQJw
1909
Depends on You
WCU PE HISTORY
Brownie Points
 How
old is West
Chester’s PE
program?
 1889
to Today
1871
 First
formal PE classes were conducted
by Mrs. Ann Morris, wife of Normal
School principal.
1889

Principal of the Normal School, Dr. George
Philips commissioned the construction of a
new gymnasium. During that same time
period Dr. Philips announced the creation of
the department of physical training and
introduced its new directors Dr Ehinger and
his wife Ella. These two events mark the
beginning of a formal department of physical
education at West Chester University.
 Dr.
Ehinger and his wife
served as co-directors
of the physical training
department for thirty
years

Dr. Ehinger and his wife introduced yearly
Gymnastics demonstrations in 1892,
wrestling 1892, Women's Tennis 1892,
Bicycling 1893, Boxing 1894, Swimming
1894, Annual Men's Field Sports Day 1894,
Men's Athletic Association 1895, Women's
Golf 1898, Men's Basketball 1898, Men's
Gymnastics Team 1899, Women's Track and
Field 1910, Compulsory Swimming for
women 1914
1926
 First
degrees in health education were
awarded
1950
 Dr.
Sturzebecker was
appointed director of H&PE.
Over the next 20 years
under Dr. Sturzebecker's
leadership added programs
in Safety Education, Health,
Recreation, Physical
Education for the Disabled,
and Graduate Studies.
1961
 West
Chester State Teachers College
and the Department of Health and
Physical Education gained national
recognition when the Russian
gymnastics team came to West Chester
to compete against the USA
1971

As the university expanded,
became part of the State
System of Higher Education
(SSHE), and enrollment
increased, buildings and
playing fields were lost. To
compensate, South Campus
was built and later renamed
Sturzebecker HSC.
1990’s
 Faculty
of the Physical Education
Department voted to change its name to
the Kinesiology Department. This action
was taken in light of the change in
programs other than teacher
certification, changes in the University
and Department mission, and national
trends
West Chester University -- 125 Years
Campus - Aerial View - 1936
Old Main:
The large "T" shaped structure in the photograph. The top of the "T" is
facing High Street. Old Main was demolished in the Fall of 1971
Philips Memorial Building: The large structure on the right side of the
photograph.
Recitation Hall: The structure opposite the base of the "T".
Old Library: The structure to the left of Recitation Hall
Model School: The structure to the right of Recitation Hall. The building is
now known as Ruby Jones Hall
Old Gymnasium: The structure between Recitation Hall and the North Wing
(right side) of Old Main. The Old Gymnasium was demolished in the Fall of
1971.