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A Contemporary Mission forPhysical Education

Foundations of HR Fitness:Based on the work of Pate, R.R., & Hohn, R.C. (Eds.) (1994). Health and fitness through physical education. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

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Physical Education Paradox I Positive elements for the profession

– Physical education is an established component of the U.S. school system.

– American “Fitness Revolution” of the 1970’s and 1980’s has lead to increased adult interest and participation in physical activity, public support for increased physical activity and fitness programming.

– Summary Statement:• “When viewed comprehensively and from a national perspective,

physical education in the United States represents an enormous societal investment of school time, space, and personnel” (Pate & Hohn, 1994).

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Physical Education Paradox II Negative elements for the profession

– Insufficient time & space allocated for school physical education programs (Siedentop, Mand, & Taggart, 1986).

– Use of poorly prepared & disinterested classroom teachers to deliver physical education in schools (NASPE, 1993; Siedentop, 1990).

– Erosion of state requirements for physical education (NASPE, 1993).

– Summary Statement:• “Such trends indicate that, when confronted with financial restrictions and

public concerns about academic achievement, school administrators often respond by transferring resources away from physical education to other school programs” (Pate & Hohn, 1994).

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Analysis of the Problem “We propose that societal support for school physical

education has decreased despite an overall increase in support for activity and fitness programs, because it is society’s perception that physical education has not ‘delivered the goods.’ We suspect that society’s attitude toward physical education is fundamentally ambivalent” (Pate & Hohn, 1994).

– Tax-paying adults acknowledge the importance of children’s physical activity, physical fitness, & motor skill acquisition, but remain unconvinced of physical education’s potential contribution in these areas.

– What factors have contributed to the public’s ambivalence towards physical education?

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Problematic Issues in PE Personal experiences

– Pain & embarrassment– Boredom & triviality– Irrelevance

Muddled mission of PE– Motor skill acquisition– Physical fitness– Cognition learning– Social development– Cultural awareness– Academic performance– Lifelong physical activity

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Contemporary Mission ofPhysical Education

“In our view, physical education will not come to be or be seen as a successful enterprise until it tracks out meaningful, realistic goals and then documents their attainment” (Pate & Hohn, 1994).

The aim or mission of the physical education profession must meet certain criteria. The aim must be:– Important– Realistic– Understandable– Professionally accepted

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OBESITY TRENDS

The Development of Youth Fitness Education &The Physical Best Program

A Brief History

1954

• Dr. Hans Kraus study

• Results indicated:

– Only 42% of American children passed the assessment, while

– 92% of European school children passed the assessment

1956

• President Eisenhower was shocked by the scores from the Kraus study!

• Thus, Eisenhower established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness.

1957The AAHPER Youth Fitness Test:

Pull-ups/flexed arm hangSit-ups

Shuttle runStanding broad jump

50-yard dashSoftball throw for distance

600-yard walk/runFitness-related tests (not h-r)

1958 - 1980 The AAHPERD Fitness Test Batteries

Skill-Related Health-RelatedHealth-Related

Added single-leg balance

Dropped standing broad jump

Flexed arm hang

Replaced pull-ups with push-ups

Sit-ups

600-yard walk/run

1980

• AAHPERD redefined FITNESS (shifted focus to health, not skill)

• The Health-Related Fitness Test was created and replaced all fitness tests

1980 - 1989The AAHPERD Health-Related Fitness• Aerobic Capacity (1-mile walk/run)

• Muscular strength & endurance (60-sec sit-ups, pull-ups, flexed arm hang, modified pull-ups)

• Flexibility (sit-n-reach)

• Body composition (skinfold measurements)

1987

The Cooper Institute

for Aerobics Research

introduced

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What is unique about:

• Health-related

• Criterion referenced

Background info on F’GRAM standards available at: www.cooperinst.org

1987 - 1989

• In 1989 PB test became criterion referenced

• The Physical Best Educational Program:• Developed by educators to enhance the

existing physical education curriculum and supplement daily lesson plans.

1993Partnership For Common Goals

Physical Best program of AAHPERD educational arm

FITNESSGRAM program of The Cooper Instituteassessment piece

1998 - Present

Primary Resources Today:

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PHILOSOPHY

Physical Best & FITNESSGRAM

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Philosophy…for Educators

BY Physical Educators / FOR Physical Educators

To help students“DO & UNDERSTAND”

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Philosophy…for Educators

Health-Oriented

– Healthful level of physical fitness

– Regular physical activity

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Philosophy…for Educators

– Linked to national standards

– Teaches students how and why

– Educational progression

Educational

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The Stairway to Lifetime FitnessC.B. Corbin and R.P. Pangrazi, 1989

3. Personal Exercise Patterns4. Evaluate Own Fitness Levels5. Problem Solve/Decision Making

1. Participate in Regular Exercise

2. Achieve Physical Fitness

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Philosophy… for Students

Enjoyable

Realistic

Fair

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Benefits to Educators

Supports Standards

Infuse into an existing curriculum

Ready made & appropriate activities

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Benefits to Students

Teaching knowledge & values

Enjoyable Participation

All students can be successful

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Benefits to Students

INDIVIDUALIZED

– Students compete only with themselves!

– Results/printouts

– Intrinsic motivation

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An Important Message!

Educating all children –

to achieve their Physical Best