When was physical education started

Physical training helped prepare students for careers as warriors or athletes. Common sports included wrestling, boxing, and chariot races.

Physical education classes helped progress Greek society, and eventually, word of them spread throughout the world. Similar to Athens education, P. After the American Civil War, schools enacted laws necessitating physical education programs in public schools to prepare future generations for war. Nonetheless, schools eventually used these classes to take health seriously and offered more attention to physical health and development.

The government then passed legislation to improve the quality of these courses. By World War II, physical education became common for men and women to cultivate their physiques for combat and manual labor. Since the military draft rejected some men from childhood malnutrition, President Franklin D. Soon after, a national fear arose concerning the rapid weight gain of American children. President John F. Kennedy became an advocate for physical education and fitness in America, campaigning for it even before his election.

Incorporating the federal and state governments ensured the American people would recognize the national need for reform. Many colleges also began offering courses to help students understand the human body, improve their physical capabilities, and increase their self-worth.

Initially, girls leaned towards gymnastics as boys engaged in rougher sports. In , the U. House of Representatives created an amendment to the Federal Education Act to prevent gender discrimination in physical education. Women could participate in more sports in their schools. Bicycle Racks. Bike Repair and Maintenance. Trash Receptacles. Campfire Grills. Dog Park. Recycled Plastic Furniture.

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Project Calculators. Glossary of Terms. Why Choose Us. Company History. Video Vault. Community Outreach. Finished Projects. The History of Physical Education. Since , physical education has been given increased time, attention and priority in American schools. Through increasing the opportunities for exercise, teaching the importance of regular physical activity for health, and teaching skills that support physical activities, physical education makes students more likely to choose healthy and active lifestyles.

Regular physical activity has been proven to benefit not only student's physical well-being, but also their academic performance. Exercise improves circulation, increases blood flow to the brain, and raises endorphin levels, all of which help to reduce stress, improve mood and attitude, and increase concentration. Physical education is part of the curriculum in schools throughout the States, but this isn't enough to prevent rising numbers of obese and unhealthy children.

This is partly due to the amount of physical education on the timetable. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommend that children be engaged in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on all or most days of the week. However, few schools have daily physical activity, and many have cut the length of recess in order to give children more time to study.

Physical education has come a long way over the past years, but it needs to be given still more time and attention if it is to improve the nation's health. She is a first class graduate in English language and literature from the University of Oxford.