PHYSICAL EDUCATION Introduction Physical Education as a subject in the

curriculum has been dejectedly uncared for in the past and has suffered many
setbacks due to misconceptions among the teachers and administrators who,
perhaps, never had the chance to be acquainted more about the field. It is, therefore,
necessary that this subject area be properly defined and interpreted so that it will
receive its rightful emphasis in the educational program. In this unit, the students
taking PATH-FIT 1 - (Physical Activity Towards Health and Fitness) as a required
subject will comprehend better about the meaning of Physical Education and the
coverage of the course. There is almost undisputed agreement that optimum health
is one's most esteemed possession. Schopenhauer, the German philosopher
expressed this thought when he wisely remarked, "the greatest of follies is to neglect
one’s health for any advantage of life” A study of history of nations shows that
advancement is directly related to the physical, mental, and emotional health of the
people. In the process of improving and maintaining optimum health, it is necessary
for all people of all ages to participate in physical exercise; there is an ample
variation in the types of exercise, which are recommended for different age groups.
General Objectives: At the end of the unit, the students are expected to: define
physical education and interpret its meaning in relation to life situation; analyze
fitness as the major goal of physical education; discuss the general objectives of PE
as a part of educational system and its legal bases; state the purposes of Physical
Education in a developing country; and acquire physical knowledge and skills
necessary to demonstrate adequate movement in performing and health enhancing
fitness

Physical Education: Definition, Goals, Objectives, and Functions

Specific Objectives:

• Explain the meaning of Physical Education;

• Define fitness as the major goal of Physical Education; and
• Differentiate the objectives of Physical Education

Definition of Physical Education

Physical Education has undergone many vicissitudes numerous changes of path in

the Philippine schools. There was a time when Physical Education was considered
as education of physical, hence, a muscular physique was considered as a physical
educated body. The activities then were termed as " drill”, physical training and
'calisthenics'. This old concept of physical education would, in all respect, mean
today as strengthening the muscles. The newer and modern perception of physical
education is that it is education through physical activities. and modern physical
education idiom, it is education through "movement." Wunderlich (1967) describes
of movement as follows: 1. It provides sensory data. 2. It broadens the perspective
horizon. 3. It stimulates function and structure of all bodily organs. 4. It is the
means by which an individual learns about himself in relation to his ambient
environment. What "education through movement more particularly entails is the
taking of that culture-based family of activities and process games, dance,
gymnastics, athletic sports, and outdoor pursue as a means "through" which the
teacher can help effect enviable outcomes, despite the consequences of whether or
not those activities have essential worth of their own. Moreover, Physical Education
focuses on the e concept of "learn to move, move to learn: An individual must know
how to move in order to learn on how to move in order to acquire and learn the
needed knowledge in a certain activity.

Physical Education Physical Education is an integral part of the education program

purposely to promote the optimum development of the individual physically,
socially, emotionally, and mentally through total movement in the performance of
properly selected physical activities (Andin, 2002). Phase of education concerned
with the teaching and learning of skills and attitudes in play activities. It is an aspect
of education that may be appropriately described as education through physical
exertion.

Legal Bases of Teaching Physical Education in the Philippines Setting

1901 Physical exercise was one of the subjects introduced in the public schools and
regular program of athletics was developed.

1920 Physical Education was made a required subject in the curriculum of all
public schools.

1937 Physical Education was made curricular subject in the secondary school
curriculum.
The School of Physical Education and Sports Development 1969 Act of 1969. A
program of activities included among others:

1. A program of health education and nutrition,

2. 2. A program of physical fitness for all pupils,
3. 3. A program of competitive athletics,
4. 4. A program of intramurals and inter-unit athletic competition within
schools, districts, and provinces; and
5. 5. An annual athletic competition within and among regions. 1982 MAPE was
introduced and the learning area involves music, arts, and physical
education. (Foundation of Physical Education by Carmen Andin)

Article 1 of the International Charter of Physical Education and Sports, UNESCO,

Paris (1975) and Recommendation 1, Inter- disciplinary Regional Meeting of Experts
in Physical Education and Sports, UNESCO, Brisbane (1982). The practice of
Physical Education and Sports s is a fundamental right of All ... and the right should
not be treated as different in principle from the right of adequate food, shelter and
medicines. Article XIV Section 19 (1) & (2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
mandates that: The state shall promote physical education and encourage sports
programs, league competitions, and amateur sports, including training for
international competitions, 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 in cooperation with
athletic clubs and other sectors.

Functions of Physical Education

Physical Education performs three functions which are:

1. Biologic Function refers to the enhancement of the individual’s growth and

development through body movement.
2. Integrative Function –refers to the personality integration achieved through
participation in properly selected physical activities.
3. Social Function - refers to the transmitting values and standards that are
consistent with the needs and ideals of the society.
4.
All in all, Physical Education as education "through” movement is best conceived of
as being that component of the educational process which aims to improve and
complement the individual chiefly through professionally selected and directed
physical activities.

Fitness - A Major Goal of Physical Education

Different people differ in their notion of fitness. In the field of Physical Education,
the concept of fitness has implications for physical, social, emotional, and mental
well-being. In view of these four aspects, it can be said that FITNESS is the ability
to live a healthy, satisfying, and useful life. This type of life is what the educational
philosophers and thinkers’ term as the “good life. “This is the ultimate goal of
education.

To live the "good life” means that am individual satisfies the basic needs as physical
well-being, love, affection, security and self-respect. He lives blissfully with other
people and is interested in them. He has an interest and yearning to serve humanity
and believes in and exemplifies high ethical standards. Because of his secure
relationship with people and future events, he lives a remarkable and stimulating
life. Physical education as a component of the educational system strives to aid or
facilitate the development of an individual so that he can achieve total fitness to
allow him to envoy's the "good life." Therefore, a major goal of physical education is
FITNESS.

Objectives of Physical Education

The following objectives of Physical Education are viewed and stated in terms of
their contributions to the outcomes of education and in the curriculum.

Physical Development

Through cautiously selected physical education activities, an individual who

participates energetically will develop and maintain good health and a high level of
physical fitness. The attainment of physical skills can motivate an individual who
participates further in physical activities; hence, his growth and development will
be improved.

Social Development
Involvement in Physical Education activities provide opportunities for the
development of enviable social traits needed for adjustment to the social life in
general.

Some worthwhile traits are:

1. friendliness
2. cooperation
3. respect for the rights of others
4. good sportsmanship
5. good leadership and followership
6. honesty in group competition

Emotional Development The informal nature of physical education activities offers

opportunities for self-expression and emotional mastery.

Examples of worthwhile emotional traits are:

1. self-confidence
2. self-control
3. self-reliance
4. courage
5. determination

Mental Development

Through participation in physical education activities, the individual develops his

mental capacities as he learns the mechanical principles of underlying movements,
as he obtains knowledge and understanding of the rules and strategies of the games
and sports, and as he discovers ways of improving his movement in gymnastics and
dance. Likewise, it enhances critical thinking how activities are done according to
rules, regulations and strategies.

Objectives of Physical Education

1. Knowledge - it enhances critical thinking how activities are done according to

rules, regulations and strategies.
 2. Physical fitness - improves and maintains the workload of the individual
without staggering and undue fatigue after which have time or energy to meet
some more emergencies in life.
3. Social - to understand oneself; to get along with others for effective living.
4. Motor skills - it is the learning of the fundamental skills necessary for
participation in sports and games.
5. Aesthetic - relating or responsive to or appreciative of what is pleasurable to
the senses.
6. Nationalism - preservation of cultural heritage through revival of indigenous
games, dances and sports.
7. Conservation of natural environment such as protection of forest and aquatic
resources.

New Directions for Physical Education

"All our educational efforts must be directed towards the development of our
national goals as a developing country” This focus, contained in the Presidential
Decree No. 6-A, is entitled "Educational Development Decree of 1972," the goals of
which are:

1. To achieve and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and

social progress;
2. To assure the maximum participation of all the people in the attainment and
enjoyment of the benefits of such growth; and
3. To strengthen national consciousness and promote desirable cultural values
in the changing world.

The foregoing development goals must itself offer direction to the teaching of
physical education. How will Physical Education lend significant to these goals?
What can the Physical Education teacher do to contribute to the attainment of the
goals? The answers to these questions will come to the fore when the purposes of
physical education have been well understood.

Purposes of Physical Education

The Physical Education specialists in our country have identified the following
purposes of Physical Education:
1. To develop optimum physical fitness and health of the individual so that he
is capable of living the “good life" and contributing his maximum capacity to
the attainment of the goals of the "New Society";
2. To produce individuals who can contribute to the economic well-being
through:
a. the improvement of proper work habits and work attitudes such as
punctuality, cooperation, reliability precision and accuracy, and open-
mindedness;
b. proper emphasis on problem-solving skills such that an individual can
identify a problem correctly and master the skills necessary or useful
in the business world:
3. To train good leaders with moral integrity of the highest order, and develop
other desirable traits necessary for effective group participation or group living
essential to the New Society through; an adequate system of values by
equipping the individual to be able to make moral choices or decisions needed
in daily living; and b. offering group participation in such experiences as
intramural, extramural, play days or sports fests;
4. To develop creativity and innovativeness inspired by an abiding faith in God
and love of country and fellowmen; and
5. To install a love of and pride for their preservation, and develop an
understanding of the culture of other for a feeling of international brotherhood
and unity.