Studying health and physical fitness will prepare you to teach physical education and coach sports at various education levels. When you study health and physical fitness, you will learn the science behind the moves, volunteer as a coach, camp counselor, or an assistant in an after-school program, and get involved in a variety of sports.
Physical education originated thousands of years ago, in ancient Greece. In roughly 380 B.C., Plato mentioned physical education in 'The Republic,' stating that two types of education were necessary: educating the mind and educating the body. Gymnastics was the form of physical education taught in ancient Greece. Boys and young men were expected to practice gymnastics regularly, in the gymnasium situated in the center of Athens. A healthy body was celebrated through the competitive gymnastics and races of the Olympic Games.
The first teacher of physical education to appear in America was a German named Charles Beck. Physical education was taught by a select few in Germany in the late 1790s, and in the 1820s Beck decided to promote physical education across the world, traveling to France, Switzerland and eventually America. In 1825, Beck was hired by the Round Hill School in Northampton, Massachusetts, becoming the first official physical education teacher in the United States. The school contained a gymnasium, and Beck primarily taught German gymnastics. From 1825 to the present, the form of physical education taught in schools has altered dramatically. Though gymnastics is still taught as part of physical education, it no longer forms a key part of the curriculum.
Instead, exercise and sports are now the main focus. The current emphasis on overall health and fitness, and particularly physical stamina and endurance, stems from World War II, when 45 percent of the first 2 million males drafted failed their physicals. Starting in 1941, physical education was 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 a student's physical well-being, but also his 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 United 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 available. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends 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.
PE in secondary schools being cut from the school day EB News: - 12:47Time on the curriculum for Physical Education is being squeezed, new research from the Youth Sport Trust shows.The research found that 38 per cent of English secondary schools have cut timetabled Physical Education for 14-16-year-olds since 2012, while almost one in four (24%) have done so in the last academic year.Ali Oliver, Chief Executive of the YST, said: “It is alarming that opportunities for young people to be active during the school day are diminishing year-on-year. Like English and Maths, Physical Education should be part of the bedrock of a good education which equips young people with the vital skills which support their wellbeing, ability to learn in other subjects and help prepare them for employment.“A high quality Physical Education curriculum uses sport as a vehicle through which a joy of movement is established, life skills are developed and an understanding of a healthy lifestyle is acquired.“Cuts to Physical Education time are depriving young people of these benefits at a time when they have never needed them more. We will be selling this and future generations short if Physical Education is not made fit for the 21st century and put at the heart of a broad and balanced curriculum in our schools.”The YST research is based on responses from teachers at 487 English secondary schools.
It found that timetabled Physical Education time is decreasing, and the cuts get bigger as students get older. At key stage four (ages 14 to 16), 38% of schools had reduced timetabled PE in the past five years while 24% had done so in the past year.On average pupils moving from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4 experience a 21% drop in the amount of curriculum PE they receive a week.
By the time they are aged 16 to 18-years-old they are doing just 34 minutes a week at school.Exam pressure, additional curriculum time for other subjects and staffing cuts are among the reasons cited for reductions. 38% of teachers said their PE provision has declined because core/eBacc subjects have been given additional time with students taken out of timetabled Physical Education for extra tuition in other subjects. It is suggested these are the very same young people who need that physical activity time the most.
One in three cited exam pressures as a key reason for the decline.Physical Education teachers overwhelming feel the subject needs to be more valued amongst school leaders, parents, wider stakeholders and importantly young people. 97% of teachers agree PE should be valued more within the school curriculum for what it offers young people.A secondary school’s Physical Education provision is often judged on GCSE PE grades and trophies rather than its impact engaging and developing the health and wellbeing of students across the school.The YST is calling for an overhaul of Physical Education’s place in the curriculum to place much greater emphasis on using sport and physical activity to enhance young people’s confidence, emotional wellbeing, physical health and life skills.