PED 191
History of Physical Activity
Ontology Across Time
Panem et circenses: bread and circuses
A strong mind in a healthy bodyMens sana en corpore sanoAsceticism: bodily self denial
Middle Ages
Focus on the soul, secondarily on the mind
Tertiary - the bodyBUT knights, peasants are physicalPlay is commonAssociated with Sundays, leisurePoint: the CHURCH argues against
physicality; culture lives for it
From Middle Ages to Renaissance - HumanismRenaissance - “rebirth”Focus on “this world”Being a complete person“Renaissance Man”L’homo universaleReading the classics: Plato, AristotleBalance!
Renaissance
Movement from the East accelerates in 1453 with fall of Byzantium
Scholars, lay people reading the classics - Plato, Aristotle
Infusion of classics with Christianity
Renaissance
Vittorino da Feltre1423 La GiocosaIntroduction of physical education into
educationDuns Scotus
Scholarship “Duns cap”
Jean Jacques Rousseau, 1712-78
Emile, or On Education"Everything is good as it leaves the
Author of things; everything degenerates in the hands of man."
Argument: God is good God made our bodies It is “natural” to use our bodies, so we
should
Johann Bernhard Basedow 1723-90Student of RousseauProposed the reform of educationTried to bring students into contact with
the real world, not just ideas or religion.1774 published ElementarwerkPhilanthropinImplements physical education program
Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths 1759-1839Founder German school of gymnasticsHis handbooks widely usedGymnastik far die Jugend (1793)
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778 - 1852) “Turnvater Jahn”Early in life a soldier, witnessed
defeats to NapoleonThe turnvereinSought to restore spirits of Germans
through the development of moral and physical prowess through gymnastics
Jahn…
Turnplatz, 1811Outdoor physical activityLater “heavy apparatus”Rope climbs, pommel horse
Jahn….
Turnplatz become popular in USA in 1800s physical education programs
Pierre de Coubertin adopts gymnastics in 1896 Olympics
Evolves into the modern sport of gymnastics
Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839)
Originally trained in theology, became destitute
Became fencing master, teacherRestored his healthStudied anatomy/physiologyTrained as a physician
Ling…
Developed a system of gymnastics divided into four branches pedagogical medical military aesthetic
1813 Royal Gymnastic Central InstituteTrained of gymnastic instructors
Ling…
“Light Apparatus”Fencing, calisthenicsBased on medicine and science Precursor to contemporary aerobics
(group fitness), exercise evaluation and prescription
Into America…
By late 1800s there is a movement to have gymnastics (PE) in the schools
Models: Ling and Jahn“Battle of the Systems”1885 American Physical Education
Association meets 49 attend, 25 are physicians
Into America: 1885 - 1900
School system is just developing: what will be the curriculum?
First discussions of PE are health related
Battle of the Systems is a fight over the best curriculum
Into America: 1900 - 1920
Transition from medicine to educationJohn Dewey, progressive education
advocatePhilosopher: proponent of the
American philosophy of pragmatism“Educate the whole person”Citizenship rather than health (which is
“just” the body)
Into America: 1900-1920
Sport for AllUse sport, especially team games, to
build citizenshipMovement away from calisthenics“Sport builds character”Coaches deliver the curriculum,
especially football coaches
America 1920 to 2000
Skills emphasis in American physical education
Lasts into the 1990s when obesity observations leads to an awareness of a physical inactivity epidemic
Premodern and Modern Sport
Premodern Organization
Nonexistent or informal
Arranged directly or indirectly
Rules simple, unwritten based on local
customs/traditions
Modern Organization
Formal Differentiated at local,
regional, national levels Rules
formal, standard, written rational and overseen by
organization
Premodern and Modern Sport
Premodern Competition
locally meaningful Roles
loose distinction among players/spectators
Modern Competition
national and international
Roles—specialists distinction between
players/spectators
Premodern and Modern Sport
Premodern Public information
limited, local, oral Stats/records
nonexistent, perhaps anecdotal
Modern Public information
Regular: in local and national mediums
Stats/records kept regularly important measures of
achievement
Industrialization/ Urbanization
Another paradigm to understand change in sport over time
Views one’s leisure activities dependent on living pattern Shift from rural to urban patterns Move from country games to city games
from hunting and fishing to urban games
Industrialization/ Urbanization
Concept of enclosure becomes important Space is limited
one’s recreational pursuits are guided into confined spaces
Example: American basketball
Availability of lots of people makes possible team games