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