I. Changes in Education and Physical Education

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT - USA 1900 - 1930

I. Changes in education and physical education A. Educational philosophers advocated developmentalism and social education as important goals for overall education. B. Leaders in physical education began to connect the goals of physical education to those of education. This was especially evident in the “new physical education” as advocated by Thomas Wood and Clark Hetherington. C. Hetherington characterized the elements of the new physical education in 1910: 1. organic education 2. psychomotor 3. character education 4. intellectual education D. Thomas Wood writing in 1910 advocated a subject matter change for physical education. 1. Wood was critical of the European exercise systems for not being closely enough related to the activities of human life. 2. play, games and sport seen as natural activities more valuable in educating the whole child. 3. physical education as a means to a more noble objective. 4. a physical and psychological program more in keeping with education as a whole. 5. this, along with teacher training programs to prepare teachers for public school education positions merged the programs of physical education and sport into closer alignment. 6. physical education programs began the profound change from emphasizing exercise toward emphasizing sports and games as the principle focus.

E. WWI however, temporarily interrupted the process of change. Because of the war programs emphasized fitness for military readiness. F. The combination of tremendous increase in the popularity of sport in society and the subject matter change in physical education created the perception that competitive sport and physical education were one and the same. Indeed the proliferation of professional preparation programs where p.e. teachers were often coaches and vice versa supported this public perception.

II. Growth In Allied Areas A. Public interest in sport and a new attitude toward the value of play served to foster growth in allied areas. B. The Playground Association of America was founded during this time. C. Intramural programs proliferated both on high school and College campuses. D. The American Association for the Advancement of PE changed its name to the American Physical Education Association in 1903 and between 1915 and 1930 increased in membership Over 300% to 4000 members. E. Interest in research increased and the American Academy of Physical Education was begun by Luther Gulick.

III. Changes In Sport A. Tremendous increase public and student interest in intercollegiate sport. B. However, college sport plagued with problems. These were of concern that President Roosevelt directed the college presidents to address the issue or eliminate the sports programs. C. Early meetings resulted in formation of the IAAUS (forerunner to the NCAA). D. Initial concerns were; faculty control, eligibility, seasonal coaches, recruiting violations, subsidization, rules violations and conferences. IV. The Scientific Movement A. Although the “new physical education” stressed less formal exercise programs and focused on social values, the scientific emphasis gained in importance. B. Test and Measurement became increasingly important tools for Measuring achievement. C. Interest grew in the areas of cardiovascular research and motor performance research . D. The scientific method was applied to early research in the sociological and psychological aspects of movement.

V. Additional Evidence of Change and Growth A. Four year degree programs in physical education B. Graduate degree programs in physical education 1. Masters Degree - Columbia, 1910 2. Doctoral Degree - Columbia, 1924