UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Lesson 1: History of Physical Education

The unit includes the discussion of history of Physical Education, its

definition, the legal bases, its main goal and objectives and its values and
benefits.

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. Be aware of the beginning of Physical Education.

2. Discuss the meaning of Physical Education and interpret its legal
bases.
3. Identify and exemplify the main goal and objectives of Physical
Education.

ACTIVITY 1. Think it!

What comes in your mind when you hear the word Physical Education? In
this activity, kindly write down your thoughts/ideas inside the circle.
Introduction to Physical education

Physical Education involves the learning processes of skills, the acquisition of

knowledge and the development of attitudes through movement. Physical education is
that part of the total process of education which utilizes games, sport, dance, and health
fitness activities to help the individual achieve the goals of education. Well-defined
programs of physical education provide a systemic progression of cognitive, affective,
and psychomotor experiences as every individual pass through various developmental
stages during their tenure in school. 
Physical activity is critical to the development and maintenance of good health.
The goal of physical education is to develop physically educated individuals who have
the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity.

History of Physical Education

Physical Education is the earliest form

of education known to human beings. Learning
how to move is vital for one`s survival.
Learning the most basic functions such as
turning over, sitting up, crawling, standing,
walking, and running are but a few of the
essential skills that an individual has to learn.
Growing up, a variety of more complex
movement skills must be acquired. In the primitive era, one must learn the skills of
hunting and gathering food, of looking for shelter, as well as defending one`s territory.
The desire for propagation and mating is said to have been the origin of dance and play.

Ancient civilizations have forms of physical education as part of their past and
culture. China has records of forms of music, dance, and archery, as well as other forms
of activities such as wrestling, tug of war, polo, grappling, kite flying, and water games.
India has records of the earliest forms of
dances, as well as other forms of activities
such as throwing balls, dice, tumbling, chariot
races, marbles, riding elephants, plowing
contest, horse riding, wrestling,
swordsmanship, boxing, and dancing. In
Egypt, young boys were given weapons to play
and train with, and were trained in gymnastics,
while the girls were taught dance to entertain
royalties. In Persia, the empire was built through the military. The whole life of the
individual is a life of military training.

The Greeks valued physical education

as well. In Athens, life was a democracy, and
physical education was for the purpose of
perfection and beauty. In Sparta, physical
education was primarily used for
strengthening the army. Defective babies
were thrown off the cliff, and young boys
started their training by six years of age.
Spartans trained in wrestling, jumping,
running, discus and javelin throwing, riding a
horse, hunting, marching, and other activities. When Rome conquered Greece, such
practices in physical training were assimilated in the life of Roman soldier. As the
Roman empire started to become materialistic, there was a decline in physical
education, and the focus went into gladiatorial combat as a form of entertainment. With
the decline of the Roman empire, physical education experienced a decline as well.

The importance of physical education reemerged during the era of feudalism.

With the rise of the feudal system, there was a need to put up small armies and fiefs, as
training for military skills resurfaced. People were trained on how to use the sword,
shield, and the bow and arrow. Horseback riding and scaling walls were also taught.

During the Renaissance period,

physical education was also seen as an
important part of life. While the mind was
given premium, the people believed that the
body must have rest and recreation as well.
Eventually the practice of physical education
and gymnastics spread across Europe, and
was formalized in Germany, Denmark,
Sweden, and Great Britain. Physical
education was made part of the school
curriculum and was experiencing refinement. Eventually the United States followed suit.
It formalized physical education in school, establishing sports club and programs for
teacher training. Basketball was invented, and broad and extensive programs were
established for sports and recreational activities
The Philippines has adopted the
western institutional approach to education,
and gym class. Since the 1940`s, much more
emphasis has been made on physical fitness
and well-being in the school system. Soccer,
as is the case with an overwhelming majority
of the world`s population, is a favorite among
citizens of the Philippines. Many sports made
popular in the United States are prevalent in
the country due to the coming of the American PEACE CORPS who had greatly
influenced the Filipino sports and physical activities this include basketball, tennis,
volleyball, boxing, wrestling and even golf. This preponderance on sports and recreation
also is a direct result of the influence of physical education being offered in schools
across the country. In addition to the various forms of western influence in the school
system of the Philippines, Instructors have melded the art forms of martial arts into their
curriculum creating a symbiotic blend of east and west.

It is widely noted that health should

also be a major component in physical
education curriculum. Whereas physical
education was primarily for survival in the
past and utilized for military purposes,
today, the shift in purpose is to build a
citizenry that is fit for life. This entails that
the individual must be physically fit and
healthy as well.

1901 – Physical Exercise is one of the major subjects offered in public schools
and
regular program of athletics was developed.
1905 – Baseball and track were introduced and taught in the young boys in
school.
1909 – Athletics program for school was inaugurated.
1910 – Basketball was first introduced as a game for girls.
1920 – Physical Education was made a required subject in the curriculum of all
public schools.

Dr. Aparicio H. Mequi was considered the father

of Philippine physical fitness because of his contribution
such as the physical fitness test that was used in the
DepEd and to tertiary. Hataw dance was initiated by him
and supported by the government through its agencies
such as Department of Health, and late Civil Service
mandated its constituent to have every end of the week
as their fitness day.

Physical Education

It is an integral part of the educational program designed to promote the optimum

development of the individual physically, socially, emotionally and mentally through total
body movement in the performance of properly selected physical activities (Andin,
1988).

Physical Education develops the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes needed
for establishing and enjoying an active and healthy lifestyle, as well as building student
confidence and competence in facing challenges as individuals and in groups or teams,
through a wide range of learning activities (World Health Organization, 2002).
https://334.edb.hkedcity.net/doc/eng/framework1/pe.pdf

Legal Bases
1. Article 14, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines.

“The State shall promote Physical Education and encourage sports program, 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 the cooperation with athletic club and other sectors.”

2. Article 1 of the International Charter of Physical Education and Sports,

UNESCO, Paris (1978) and Interdisciplinary Regional Meeting of Experts
in PE, UNESCO, Brisbane, Australia, (1982).

“Physical Education and Sports is a fundamental right to all and this right should not be
treated as different principle from the right to adequate food, shelter, and medical care”.
ACTIVITY 2. Let`s Do This!

Direction: Answer the following questions below. Deadline of submission will be

announced by your instructor.

1. Explain how physical education develops and becomes an integral part of the
school curriculum.
2. The primary purpose of physical education is to build a citizenry
that is fit for life. Was the purpose being attained? Give reasons for
your answer.
3. What do you think about the legal bases stated in this lesson? Is it still
applicable? Yes or No? Justify your answer.

References:
https://334.edb.hkedcity.net/doc/eng/framework1/pe.pdf
Detalla, Visminda L. 2015 “ Primer in Wellness and Exercise Science”. 2015 Edition
Lesson 2: Valuing Physical Education

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. Recognize the importance of valuing Physical Education;
2. Explain the main goal of Physical Education; and
3. Identify and discuss the values and benefits of Physical Education to the total
development of an individual.

Introduction
Physical activity become meaningful if we know the values and benefits out of
performing physical activity. Physical education is an essential subject area for learning.
It helps become competent movers, which in turn builds confidence and lays a
foundation for participation in lifetime physical activity.
Acquiring substantial knowledge about the importance of valuing physical activity
to day-to-day basis is a factor towards healthy, prosperous and useful life. Moreover,
physical activity allows us to become more efficient and effective in performing our daily
task in our community.

Main Goal of Physical Education

The main goal of Physical Education is

fitness. To live a “good life” means to have an
ability to live healthy, satisfying, and useful life.
This means that an individual satisfies his basic
needs as physical well-being for love, affection,
security, and self-respect. Physical Education
classes teach individuals skills that they will use
throughout their entire lives.

Objective

Total human development through properly and carefully selected physical

activities in terms of their physical, social, emotional, and well-being. The most well-
known goal of physical education class is to promote fitness- but there’s more to this
aspiration than breaking students out of stationary lifestyle.
The aim of physical education is not only physical development but also to equip
learners with knowledge, skills, capacities, values, and the enthusiasm to maintain and
carry on a healthy lifestyle. It promotes physical fitness, develops motor skills and the
understanding of rules, concepts and strategies of playing games and sports. Students
learn to either work as part of a team, or as individuals in a wide variety of competitive
activities. The main objectives of physical education are to:
1. Develop motor abilities like strength, speed, endurance, coordination, flexibility,
agility and balance, as they are important aspects for good performance in
different games and sports.
2. Develop techniques and tactics involved in organized physical activities, games
and sports.
3. Acquire knowledge about human body as its functioning is influenced by physical
activities.
4. Understand the process of growth and development as participation in physical
activities has positive relationship with it.
5. Develop socio-psychological aspects like control of emotions, balanced
behaviour, development of leadership and followership qualities and team spirit
through participation in games and sports.
6. Develop positive health related fitness habits which can be practiced lifelong so
as to prevent degenerative diseases.

Values and Benefits of Physical Education

Quality Physical education programs are needed to increase the physical

competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility and enjoyment of physical activity
for all students so that they can be physically active for a lifetime. Physical education
programs can only provide these values and benefits such as the physical, social,
emotional, mental and spiritual aspect of an individual if they are well-planned and well-
implemented.
The table below shows the values and benefits of physical activity in terms of
physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of life.

Values Benefits

- Reduced risk of heart disease

- Stronger bones
A. Physical - Improved physical fitness
- Weight regulation
- Health promotion

B. Social - Strengthened peer relationships

- More active lifestyles

- Stress reduction
C. Emotional - Self-discipline
- Improved self – confidence and self – esteem
- Reduced risk of depression

D. Mental - Improved judgment

- Experience setting goals

E. Spiritual -Develops appreciation of body-mind connection

Activity 3. Short Answer Test!

Direction: Answer the following questions below. Students must type their answer in a
Microsoft Word and submit it to our section in Google Classroom. (Note: Use Times
New Roman, size 12 as your font in encoding your answer.)

1. In your own words, why is physical education important and what are the benefits
of regular physical activity? Cite some examples to explain further your answer.
2. How will physical education help us now and in the future?
3. What is the importance of Physical Education in times of crisis?

ACTIVITY 4 : Let`s Find It!

Direction: Research at least two programs being implemented in your community that
encourages active participation and promotes healthy lifestyle of an individual. Analyze
how they are set up in terms of their advantages and disadvantages. Provide ways on
how to improve the programs. Deadline of submission will be announced by your
Instructor.

Name of the Advantages Disadvantages Recommendations

Program for improvement

References:
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/iehp103.pdf
Modules for Physical Education I, 2013 Edition