With the advent of new technology, life style of human is continuously changing. While huge dependence on technology the Humans are becoming lethargic. This created the need and importance of Physical Education.
The term “physical education” was first used in 1748. Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys. Ed. or PE. PE is taught during primary and secondary education.
Physical education is an academic subject that provides cognitive content and instruction to develop motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for physical activity and physical fitness.
It is based on national standards for physical education and is a planned, sequential K–12 curriculum.
Physical education provides benefits such as increased physical activity and physical fitness, and does not negatively affect students’ academic achievement.
Strengthening physical education in schools can provide students with the ability and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime.
Francois Delsarte, Liselott Diem, and Rudolf von Laban are some names who are pioneers in PE (Physical Education).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is suggested that young children should be participating in 60-minutes of exercise per day at least 3 times per week. This goal can be achieved only by ensuring that everyone gets physical education.
Read about Relationship Between Philosophy and Education
Benefits, need and importance of Physical Education
- Physical education helps students develop a wide range of faculties, including physical, mental, emotional, and social skills.
- It provides students with the opportunity to develop a positive attitude towards physical activity and a lifelong commitment to healthy living.
- Lowers metabolic disease risk.
- improved cardiorespiratory fitness
- better mental health.
- Physical education is essential for students’ holistic development, beyond academics.
- In today’s technology-driven world, physical education is crucial for students’ overall well-being.
- Addresses sedentary behavior
- Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Habits
- It helps students develop cooperation and teamwork.
- Physical education builds self-confidence and provides opportunities for personal goal-setting.
- It helps reduce stress and anxiety.
- Students develop valuable skills like leadership, teamwork, communication, and time management.
- It helps prevent sickness and disease.
Activities to be included in the Curriculum
A highly effective physical education program aims to develop physical literacy. Physical education implements core principles like learning health and physical education concepts and accommodating differences in student populations. Some activities to be included are:
- Physical activities include basketball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, badminton, tennis, walking, cycling, and swimming.
- Mental Activity like Chess.
- Gymnastics and wrestling activities.
- Activities like football, netball, hockey, rounders, cricket, four square, racing etc.
Career Prospects and Opportunities
Physical education provides career opportunities for students who are passionate about physical activities, sports, and fitness. These opportunities are:
- Teaching
- Coaching
- Fitness Instruction
- Sports journalism
- Sports organization
- Sports psychology
- Physical therapy
- Exercise physiology
- Sports tourism
- Athletic director
- Camp director
- College instructor or professor
- Community sports director
- Corporate wellness specialist etc.
Barriers to Physical Education
- Attitudinal barriers : This could be a barrier such as negative attitudes towards children with disabilities.
- Environmental barriers: This includes barriers related to the environment, such as a lack of parks or open space for physical activity.
- Fear of injury: This includes the barrier created by the fear of getting injured.
- Lack of time and energy: Lack of sufficient power and time can also be a hindrance in physical education.
- Being suffering from any disease is also an obstacle to achieving physical education.
- Gender difference is also an obstacle to achieving the goals of physical education.
- Lack of self-motivation
- Boredom with exercise
- Lack of self-management skills, such as the ability to set personal goals, monitor
- lack of encouragement, support, or companionship from family and friends
- cost
- transportation
- partner issues
- skill
- safety considerations
- child care
- uneasiness with change
- unsuitable programs
- No accessibility of walking paths, cycling trails, recreation facilities and exercise equipments
- Traffic and unavailability of public transportation
- Crime, and Pollution
How to overcome the barriers
Following are some solutions to resolve the issues of Physical Education:
- Add physical activity to your daily routine. For example, walk or ride your bike to work or shopping, organise school activities around physical activity, walk the dog, exercise while you watch TV, park farther away from your destination, etc.
- Select activities requiring minimal time, such as walking, jogging, or stair climbing.
- Explain your interest in physical activity to friends and family. Ask them to support your efforts.
- Plan social activities involving exercise.
- Develop new friendships with physically active people.
- Schedule physical activity for times in the day or week when you feel energetic.
- Join an exercise group or class.
- Learn how to warm up and cool down to prevent injury.
- Learn how to exercise appropriately considering your age, fitness level, skill level, and health status.
- Select activities that require minimal facilities or equipment, such as walking, jogging, jumping rope, or calisthenics.
- Identify inexpensive, convenient resources available in your community (community education programs, park and recreation programs, worksite programs, etc.).
- Develop a set of regular activities that are always available regardless of weather (indoor cycling, aerobic dance, indoor swimming, calisthenics, stair climbing, rope skipping, mall walking, dancing, gymnasium games, etc.)
- Put a jump rope in your suitcase and jump rope.
- Walk the halls and climb the stairs in hotels.
- Stay in places with swimming pools or exercise facilities.
- Visit the local shopping mall and walk for half an hour or more.
- Trade babysitting time with a friend, neighbour, or family member who also has small children.
- Exercise with the kids like going for a walk together and playing tag or other running games.
- Ride a stationary bicycle, or use other home gymnasium equipment while the kids are busy playing or sleeping.
- Try to exercise when the kids are not around (e.g., during school hours or their nap time).
- Spend more time gardening, walking the dog, and playing with your grandchildren. Children with short legs and grandparents with slower gait are often great walking partners.
- Learn a new skill you’ve always been interested in, such as ballroom dancing, square dancing, or swimming.
- Now that you have the time, make regular physical activity a part of every day. Go for a walk every morning or every evening before dinner. Treat yourself to an exercycle and ride every day.
Conclusion
Physical education is essential for students’ holistic development, encompassing mental, physical, and emotional well-being. It helps students develop valuable life skills, and cognitive development and promotes a healthy lifestyle. By understanding the importance of physical education, students can foster their overall well-being and achieve success.