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Unit 1: Introduction to Physical Education

1.0 Intended Learning Outcomes

After working on this unit, you should be able to:
a. Familiarize the shift of progression of the physical education from the early
time to the modern time;
b. Understand the legal bases of physical education;
c. Identify the objectives of physical education; and
d. Classify the phases of physical education.

1.1 Introduction

What is physical education? The term refers to an important segment of general

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

This learning packet is an exploratory and introductory course which leads you
to the history up to the phases of physical education. It covers four lessons under one
module. In this module lessons have been presented to make each topic more
interesting and easier to understand by the students.

1.2 Topics/Discussion (with Assessment/Activities)

1.2.1 History of Physical Education

The field of physical education has gone through many cycles over its long
history. These cycles range from strict authoritarianism to the liberal democracy of
today. This transformation to the democracy has opened the field of physical
education up to many new sciences, which are recreating many new professional
opportunities. If the cycles of physical education continue, these new professions
will hopefully pave way to future discoveries and studies on physical education.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE PRIMITIVE SOCIETY

 Primitive men were wanderers.

 Their motives for physical education were mainly to search for food and seek
for protection.
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 Search for food through hunting and fishing.

 Mimetic games provided children the
opportunity to prepare themselves for adult
life and responsibilities.
 Physical education was not yet organized.
 Pagan people.
Figure 1. A primitive man fishing with
 Communicate to their gods through dancing.
the use of a spear.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE ANCIENT ORIENTAL COUNTRIES

 China
 People were concerned with intellectual excellence
 Much concern with the teachings of Confucius – great teacher
 Kung-Fu was the earliest of exercises recorded in history and the greatest
contribution of China

 India
 Religious life affected their concern for their physical well-being.
 Religious life stressed reincarnation.
 The history of dance mentions Hindu
dancing as the oldest of organized dancing.
 A great contribution of India to physical
education is “Yoga” which is composed of
exercises in 84 different positions.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST COUNTRIES

 Persia
 Main objective was the building of empire through military aggression.
 Had a belief that a strong and powerful army is a physically fit army.
 Six (6) years old trained in such events as javelin throw (oldest form of throw)
 Soldier trained for endure all sorts of hardships.

 Egypt

 Believed in living a full life which means a life full of activity.

 Egyptian young boys were instructed in the use of various weapons such as
bow and arrow.
 Egyptian women danced for royal entertainment.
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN GREECE

 Physical education had its golden age in ancient Greece

SPARTA ATHENS
 Strong and powerful army  Emphasis on beauty of physique
 Individual did not enjoy freedom  Gymnastics was believed to
contribute to physical
development.
 Music was for intellect

 Six-year old boys entered the Palaestra – building for exercises and open space
for jumping and wrestling
 Paidotribe – responsible for directing the activities in the Palaestra
 14 to 16 Greek Youth coming from the Palaestra entered the Gymnasium –
physical, social, and intellectual center of
Greece
 Gymnast – expert instructor of sports and
exercises
 Gymnasiarch – chief official and overall in
charge of the entire gymnastics program

Greek philosophers, teachers, and medical men who contributed to the worth of physical
education in Greece:
 Herodotus – physical education as an aid to medicine
 Galen – physical education is a part of hygiene and subordinate to medicine
 Hippocrates – proclaimed the law of use and disuse
 Socrates – attain health to achieve one’s purpose in life
 Plato – gymnastics and music as the two most important subjects in the
curriculum
 Aristotle – interrelationship of the body and soul
 Xenophon – physical education as important in terms of the military

PHYSICAL EDUCATION DURING THE DARK AGES

 Period after the fall of the Roman empire in A.D 476

 Two (2) major movements grew (1) Ascetism; belief that one can attain high
spiritual level through devotional contemplation and (2) Scholasticism; belief
that the most essential item in one’s education are facts.
 Christian Emperor Theodosius abolished the Olympic games in A.D 394
because these were believed as being pagan.
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION DURING THE AGE OF FUDALISM

 Feudalism was a system of land tenure based upon the allegiance and service
to the nobleman or lord.
 Sons of the lord or nobleman had two choices – (1) to be a member of clergy
or (2) to enter chivalry
 Chivalry was a kind of education that was physical, social and military in
nature.
 Physical education played a major part in the training for knighthood.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION DURING THE RENAISSANCE

 Renaissance – revival of learning
 Renaissance period helped to interpret the worth of physical education to the
public.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN MODERN EUROPE

 Germany
 Johann Basedow – established Philanthropinum, the first school in modern
Europe that offered physical as a part of the curriculum
 Johann Guts Muths – Grandfather of Gymnastics
 Friedrich Ludwig Jahn – a turner; Father of Gymnastics
 Adolf Spiess – founder of school gymnastics in Germany

 Sweden
 Per Henrick Ling – established the Royal Institute of Gymnastics to prepare
teachers in 3 categories of gymnastics; educational, military, or medical
 Lars Gabriel Branting – spent his time in medical gymnastics
 Gustaf Nybleus – specialized in military gymnastics
 Hjalmar Fredrik Ling – organized educational gymnastics in Sweden;
responsible for making physical education as a school subject

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN DENMARK

 Franz Nachtegall – introduced physical education into the schools of Denmark

 Niels Bukh – introduced “Primitive Gymnastics”

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN

 Great Britain is known as the home of outdoor sports which utilized a program
of organized games and sports.
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 Archibald Maclaren – devised a system of physical education for the British

army
 Football – one of the oldest of English national sports

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN AMERICA

 Turnverein societies were established and gave support to physical education
in the public schools
 Normal Schools of Physical Education were established for training teachers
 Swedish gymnastics was recognized for inherent medical values
 Tennis was introduced in 1874
 Golf came to America in the late 1880’s
 Bowling had been popular since the time of the early Dutch
 Basketball was invented by James Naismith
 Dr. Dudley Allen Sargent was known for his work in teacher preparation,
remedial equipment, exercise devices, college organization and
administration, anthropometric measurements, experimentation as basis for
activity and scientific research
 Thomas Dennison Wood – introduced Natural Gymnastics which gave
emphasis on game & game skills
 Clark Hetherington – emphasized on children’s play activities
 Jessie Bancroft – physical education as a responsibility of homeroom teachers
in the elementary
 Jacob Riis – symbolic of the playground movement in New York

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

 The Pre-Spanish Period

 Physical education in the Philippines dates back to primitive society
when physical activity was not yet organized.
 The aborigines of the Philippines, the Negritos or Aetas, had a way of
life the same or similar to any other people living in a primitive society.
 A Negrito chieftain was selected by his physical prowess. An evidence
of this is included in the Maragtas, an ancient manuscript found in
Panay written in A.D. 1212.
 The Negritos living in the mountains are found to be fond of music and
dancing.

 The Spanish Regime

 The first plays staged by Filipinos were derived from the Spanish
ballads called corridos.
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 The most spectacular and popular were the Moro-moro which became
the generic name. the play was concerned with the wars between the
Christians and the Moors complicated by the loves of Christian or
Moorish prince for Moorish or Christian princess.
 Spanish and European dances were introduced such as fandangos,
curachas, jotas of Spain, polkas and mazurkas of Central Europe and
the Rigodon and Lanceros of France which were danced only by people
of high social standing.
 In 1863 a royal decree established a Normal School for men in Manila.
Physical education was not included in the curriculum however there
was health inspection.
 In 1892, Superior Normal School for Women Teachers in Manila was
established. Physical education was included in the curriculum. A
salary of Php 400.00 per annum was given to “Room Gymnastics”
instructor.
 In 1867 the Manila Jockey Club was founded to supervise the holding
of horse races once a year at the present R. Hidalgo St. in Manila.

 The American Period

After the historic event of the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December
10, 1898, schools reopened. The following dates mark the significant events
that followed:

 1901 – Physical exercise was one of the subjects introduced in the public
schools.
 1905 – Baseball and track and field were introduced
 1909 – The athletic program in schools was inaugurated.
 1910 – Basketball was first introduced as a game for girls in the carnival
meet held in manila.
 1911 – The “Athletic Handbook” was published.
 1914 – The Teachers Vacation Assembly in Manila gave special training
to various physical education activities
 1919 – A syllabus entitled “Physical Education: A Manual for Teachers”
was published
 1920 – Physical education was made a required subject in the
curriculum of all public schools
 1928 – A summer school for coaching was held with the aim of helping
the public school teachers to improve their coaching methods
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Unit 1: Activity 1

Directions: Complete the crossword puzzle below by reading the clues provided.

Across Down
2. Where physical education has its 1. German term for gymnast.
golden age. 3. Father of Gymnastics and Modern
7. First play staged by the Filipinos. Physical Education.
8. Composed of exercises in 84 different 4. How a Negrito chieftain was
positions. selected?
10. In 1920, this was made a required 5. He stated that physical education is
subject in the curriculum of all public an aid to medicine.
schools. 6. The period which helped interpret
12. The oldest form of throw. the worth of physical education.
14. A building for exercises and open 9. The earliest exercise recorded in
space for jumping and wrestling. history.
15. The physical, social, and intellectual 11. He abolished the Olympic Games.
center of Greece. 13. A kind pf education that was
physical, social, and military in nature.
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1.2.2 Legal Bases 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 care.”

 ARTICLE XIV, Section 19, 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines
states that:

“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.”

“All educational institutions shall undertake regular sports activities

throughout the country and in cooperation with club and other services.”

 R.A No. 5708 otherwise known as the “The Schools Physical Education and
Sports Development Act of 1969”.

“This Act provided for the promotion and financing of an integrated

physical education and sports development program for the schools in the
Philippines.”
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Unit 1: Activity 2

Directions: Answer the following question briefly but substantially.

1. Legal bases of physical education are discussed in the module. What do you
think will happen if physical education will be dissolved as a subject in the higher
education? Cite evidences and examples.
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2. In Article XIV, Section 19, of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines, it states that, “All educational institutions shall undertake regular
sports activities throughout the country...” Describe how will participation in
regular sports activities help you:
a. Improve your physical body?
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b. Make use of your ability to think?
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c. Become a good person?
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1.2.3 General Objectives of Physical Education

The goal of physical education is to assist the learner to develop and maintain a
healthy lifestyle that can be achieved through the acquisition of knowledge, desirable
habits and attitudes, game and dance skills, and wholesome interpersonal
relationships. The objectives of physical education are focused on four aspects of
development namely:

 Physical Development
 Physical fitness, which is the capacity of the body to engage in work and
play without undue fatigue, is the foremost aim of physical education.
This is achieved through regular exercise and participation in varied
vigorous activities. In the pursuit of the development and maintenance
of physical fitness, fundamental movement skills, games, sports, and
dance skills are acquired which can increase one’s capability to enjoy
lifetime recreational pursuits.

 Emotional Development
 The informal nature of physical education activities offers opportunities
for the development of a high level of self-esteem and ability to cope
with routine stresses of daily living.

 Social Development
 A learner seldom gets into vigorous physical activity by himself. He
plays, dances, or exercises with people. In the process, he learns to
respect others, and practices fair play, sportsmanship, teamwork, and
develops leadership. He learns the game of life – the application of the
golden rule.

 Mental Development
 Focus is on the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, ability to
analyze body movements and skills, evaluate game situations and make
important decisions. Understanding the rules of the games leads to
better performance or appreciation of an activity if one is a spectator.
Creativity is an essential segment if growth that can be enhanced if the
learner has a rich background and an exposure to a variety of physical
activities.
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Unit 1: Activity 3

Directions: Read each statement and identify whether it pertains to (A) Emotional
Development, (B) Social Development, (C) Physical Development, and (D) Mental
Development. Write the letter and the word of your choice on the space provided
before the number.

_______________ 1. Well-shaped body is the end result of participation in PE activities.

_______________ 2. Acquisition of skills can motivate an individual to participate

further in PE activities.

_______________ 3. Participation in PE activities provides opportunities for the

development of desirable traits needed for adjustment in life.

_______________ 4. An individual can’t carry out certain task alone.

_______________ 5. Everybody wants to belong to somebody.

_______________ 6. Appreciation of beautiful performances and self-expression are

being developed as an individual participates in PE activities.

_______________ 7. Understanding the rules & strategies of games and sports.

_______________ 8. Acquisition of fundamental skills in games and dances.

_______________ 9. Ability to cope with routine stresses in daily living.

_______________ 10. A learner seldom gets into physical activities by himself.

1.2.4 Phases of Physical Education

1. Group Games. These are lead up activities with simple rules designed
primarily for fun and enjoyment.

2. Dance. These are movements set to music where there are emerge
organizations and structure.
Folk dance Jazz dance
Social dance Ballet dance
Popular dance Street dance
Interpretative dance Cheerleading

3. Gymnastics. Sports that harmonizes body movement to the lilting tunes of

choreographed music.
Tumbling Light apparatuses
Floor skills Heavy apparatuses
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Aerial Skills Conditioning exercise

4. Recreational Activities. Activities done during one’s free time.

Cooking Weaving
Mountaineering Gardening

5. Health Safety and First Aid. A temporary care given to a victim of an accident
or those who become suddenly ill until the services of the physician can be
obtained.

6. Sports. Activities we engage for pleasure, enjoyment, recreation, even as form

of competition usually requiring vigorous bodily exercise.

Unit 1: Activity 4

Directions: Answer the following questions briefly but substantially.

1. There are six phases of physical education as you have learned in lesson 1.2.4.
Which of the following phases of physical education are you actively
participating in? Why?
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1.3 References

3G ELearning FZ LLC. (2017). Physical Education and Health.

Calicdan, A., Estrella, E.O., Balagtas, J., Coronongan, M., Cruz, G., [Link]. (2015).
Physical Education 1: Physical Fitness and Gymnastics. Jimczyville Publications.

McConnell, K., Corbin, C.B., Corbin, D.E., Farrar, T.D. (2014). Health for Life.
Human Kinetics, Inc.

Oyco, V.D. (2008). Physical Fitness for College Freshmen. RBSI.

1.4 Acknowledgement

The images, tables, figures and information contained in this module were taken from
the references cited above.