History of Physical
Education Classes
From Ancient Times to Today’s
Times the
*History of Physical Education
Presented By: Samika Thompson
The Origin Of Physical
Education
• Physical Education
comes from the Latin
words of “physica”, and
“educatio”
• “physica” is otherwise
known as physics
• “educatio” is the training
of bodily organs and
powers with a view to the
promotion of health and
vigor
Founders
Greeks
•
Physical Education was first introduced by them around 700
•
B.C.
The Greeks main idea for physical Education consisted of running,
jumping, and wrestling in their gymnasium facilities.
Ancient Romans
•
•
The Ancient Romans main idea for Physical Education pertained to
their soldiers physically preparing for battle.
The Roman soldiers would practice swimming, running, jumping
and throwing the discus and javelin.
Germans, Sweden, United Kingdom
•
In the 1800’s Germany, Sweden were among the first to be
introduced to Physical Education programs, that were included in
their schools.
Individual Pioneers
• Charles Beck- of Germany,
became the first official
“Physical Education Teacher in
the United States” in the year of
1825.
• Dudley Allen Sargent- was
responsible for inventing over 80
different fitness machines, that
consisted of pulleys and weights.
Sargent without a doubt provided
a great deal of influence on the
various fitness machines that we
use today.
• Johann Pestalozzi- is considered
to be the inventor of “free arm
exercises” or what is known
today as “calisthenics.”
•Catherine Esther Beecher- was
the first woman to be recognized as
having established any form of
Physical Education for women. In
1823, she had developed a
seminary in Hartford, Connecticut
for teaching “calisthenics” or “light
exercises” to girls.
Clothing
History



Uniforms were very important
throughout the History of Physical
Education.
Women had to wear something
similar to a sailor’s uniform
-They wore dark uniforms in
Winter Classes.
-They wore white uniforms in
Summer Classes.
Men did not have any restrictions
on how they dressed in their
Physical Education Classes. They
could wear sweat pants during
Winter Classes
and swimsuits in the
Summer Classes.
Today
Uniforms for the most are non existing
in the Physical Education Classes of
Today.
Males and Females are allowed to dress
the same in a matter of speaking. They can
now wear jogging pants, sweat shirts, tshirts, tennis shoes, shorts, and swimming
suits.
All students now have the opportunity to
wear similar clothing in Physical
Education Classes. However, some
Physical Education classes do adopt a
uniform policy in their schools but it
includes both genders.
Laws
Title IX Law
 Title IX is a law that bans any sexual
discrimination in schools for academics and
athletics in any federally funded schools.
 This law brought about a lot of changes for
women period, not just for women in
Physical Education.

Women were now allowed to participate in
some of the many physical activities that
were not deemed for men only.
 Women could now play basketball, softball
or any other activity, as opposed to just being
limited to participation in gymnastics or
swimming.
Games
History
Today
• Games use to consist of black or
white.
-Students were either playing
games that were related to relay
racing, or on teams playing
competitive sports games.
-Students would also play games
involving tag, were one person was
the “tagger” and the rest would
run to avoid being tapped.
• The games were fairly simple and
basically the students’ main
objective was to have fun, not
learn information in the process.
• Games now involve various amounts
of cross curricular learning.
-Teachers are now attempting to
incorporate the various course
subjects that students are learning
in their classes, into being game
material.
-Games that involve competition
between students are now being
eliminated in the lower level grades.
• Games are now involving a lot of
cooperation with students in groups
and core curriculum
implementation.
Citations
•
•
•
World Book Encyclopedia 2002, World Book, Inc. Chicago, Ill.
Website http://schools.eastnet.ecu.edu/pitt/ayden/hist/history.html#
Hoeger, Werner W.K. and Sharon A.; Fitness and Wellness: Fifth Edition.
Wadsworth. Copyright 2002, United States.