Article: Physical education

Physical Education

Physical instruction at the U.S. Naval Training Station, Newport, RI, 1917

In most educational systems, physical education (PE), also called physical training (PT) or gym, is a course in the curriculum which utilizes the learning medium of large-muscle activities in a play or movement exploration setting. It is almost always mandatory for students in elementary schools, and often for students in middle schools and high schools.

The primary aim of physical education is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, capacities, and values along with the enthusiasm to maintain a healthy lifestyle into adulthood, regardless of their physical abilities. Activities included in the program are designed to promote physical fitness, to develop motor skills, to instill knowledge and understanding of rules, concepts, and strategies, and to teach students to work as part of a team, or as individuals, in a wide variety of playlike and competitive activities.

Curriculum

In the United States, the physical education curriculum is designed to allow students to experience at least a minimum exposure to the following categories of activities: aquatics, conditioning activities, gymnastics, individual/dual sports, team sports, and rhythms and dance. Students are encouraged to continue to explore those activities in which they have a primary interest. In these areas, a planned sequence of learning experiences is designed to support a progression of student development.

American physical education activities include:

• American football, flag or touch
• Aerobics
• Aquatics
• Aqua-fitness
• Archery
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Bocce Ball
• Canoeing
• Cardiovascular Stations
• Conditioning activities, e.g., Jazzercise, Weight training
• Croquet
• Cultural Games & Activities
• Dance and rhythmics, e.g., Square dancing
• Field Hockey
• Floor Hockey
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Jump Rope
• Kickboxing
• Kayaking
• Lacrosse, usually in the form of Sofcrosse.
• Low organized games, e.g., Capture the flag
• Net Games
• Paddling
• Pickleball
• Roller hockey
• Roller Balding
• Sailing
• Skateboarding
• Soccer
• Softball
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Takraw
• Tennis
• Track and field
• Volleyball
• Voyaging
• Wrestling

In all states in the United States, Physical Education is offered to students from grades K to 12. Mandatory Physical Education is up to each individual State and school district. Many States require the self-contained classroom teacher to implement a Physical Education program, K-6th grade, however many of these teachers either do not teach it or they allow the students an extra recess and call it Physical Education class. Most States have do require Physical Education 6th-9th grade and offer "elective" Physical Education classes 10th-12th grades. Many school districts, especially those with limited budgets, cut back or eliminate on Physical Education from the curriculum. About two dozen states required physical education in secondary schools in 2001.

In Canada, physical education is required up to grade 10, although some provinces are considering extending this to grade 12. In the United States, individual states determine the requirement for physical education in their schools; requirements in middle schools and high schools vary widely from state to state.

In France, physical education is required from age 6 to age 16 (mandatory schooling period). It is actually taught by specialized state teachers to all secondary school students, mostly in coeducational classes : 4 hours/week at age 11, 3 hours/week from age 12 to 15 and 2 hours/week from age 16 to 18. National programs and contents refer to the contemporary physical culture: sports, dance and circus.

In the United Kingdom, sports like netball, cricket and rugby are also played.

In Romania and Moldova, oina (which is similar to baseball), rugby, basketball and soccer are popular sports played in PE classes.

In New Zealand and Australia, softball, cricket, Australian rules football and sometimes rugby are played.

In Japan, physical education is more like what are known as health classes in the United States, although some Japanese high schools, especially in Hokkaido, have the more common version.

In Sweden, sports like floorball and brännboll are played, along with internationally known sports such as soccer, basketball and volleyball.

In Spain, sports like soccer, basketball, handball and volleyball are played from primary education to bachillerato.

Clothing

The majority of schools require pupils to changes into a different set of clothing for Physical Education, in the interest of hygiene and to increase the ability to move freely during activities. The Physical Education uniform comonally compises of shorts, a t-shirt and a pair of trainers (tennis/athletic shoes).

In some countries children wear plimsoles on their feet, and even in some schools the children are required to participate in bare feet. If the pupil forgets to bring their "kit", they could be asked to remove their school shoes and socks and participate in their school uniform and bare feet, although this is not too common. Some schools give the children the option of what to wear on their feet, whether it is trainers or nothing at all. This is NOT the case in the United States.

See also

• Kinesiology
• Lifetime Fitness
• Physical Exercise
• Physical Activity
• Physical Fitness