page_title: Physical education
section_title: Trends
hierarchical_section_title: Physical education / Trends
caption_attribution_description: English: Accompanying text from the 'Illustrated London News', 5 November 1859: The building is situated in Alfred-street, leading from the High-street, and lies nearly in the centre of the University and City. The appearance of the building, now it is complete, with all its appurtenances, is most interesting, and far exceeds anything of the kind in this or any other country. Every portion of it has been carefully adapted to some important purpose: long rows of lofty windows give sufficient ventilation in summer, and, when in cold or damp weather these are closed, their place is efficiently supplied by a ventilating octagonal lantern rising from the dome-shaped centre roof, and fitted with swing sashes so adapted that they can be opened and shut with the greatest facility. A large centre space, open from the ground floor to the dome, allows every spot to be seen from every other, and not only gives accommodation for the apparatus for high climbing and swinging exercises, but affords facilities for the most complete control and supervision. As fencing forms and important part of educational exercise, one half of the upper floor is fitted up as a fencing-school, while the corresponding portion contains modified exercises for young or delicate pupils. The area is entirely devoted to gymnastic exercises on a very extended scale; and, to ensure perfect safety in their practice, the floor is composed of a carefully-constructed padding, soft, thick, and elastic. The physical condition of every pupil, child or adult, on his first entrance to the gymnasium, is carefully examined, and his height and weight, &amp;c., carefully compared with his size, condition, and conformation of body, so that his exercises may be adapted to that part which is defective. Among other machines employed for this purpose is one invented by Mr. McLaren by which he can measure the depth and width of the chest at any point. The building is open daily from nine until four o’clock. Part of this time is devoted to delicate children of both sexes, part to pupils, and the remainder to members – that is, to those pupils who are sufficiently advanced to be able to practise with a less close supervision. Different exercises are, of course, meted out to different pupils in accordance with their age, habits, and physical calibre. Mr. McLaren appears to know what gymnastics truly mean – viz., the education of the body and the apportioning with skilful hand and experienced eye the quality and quantity of the exercises best suited to the special wants of each pupil. Here, too, may be seen that most interesting display — the human frame brought by skilful culture to its perfect attainable point of grace and strength; and in the afternoon, when the more advanced pupils are going through the various feats connected with the jumping horses, horizontal bars, the trapezium, rope ladders, wall-scaling, &amp;c., it presents a scene so animated and striking that few turn from the visitors’ gallery without a feeling of something more than interest in this well-contrived and ably conducted institution. The building has been carried out in a satisfactory manner by Messrs. Castle. (the above retrieved from: http://www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/schools/gymnasium.html )
context_page_description: Physical education, also known as Phys Ed., PE and in some Commonwealth countries as physical training or PT, is a class that pupils are required to take at school. It is taken during primary and secondary education and encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting to promote health.
  In addition, physical literacy is a 21st-century term that first emerged in the sport literature before also being applied to physical education. The concept of physical literacy covers a variety of conditions for a student. Whether its motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding for student. Teachers implement these different concepts into their lesson plans to teach and develop students accordingly and appropriately for their individual success and education.
  Whether the class produces positive effects on students' health, behavior, and academic performance depends upon the kind of program that is taught. Physical Education programs vary all over the world. However, there are worldwide organizations that allow for a better understanding on how much exercise a child should be getting daily.
context_section_description: Physical education trends have developed recently to incorporate a greater variety of activities besides the skills necessary to play typical team sports such as football or basketball. Introducing students to activities like bowling, walking/hiking, or frisbee at an early age can help them develop good activity habits that will continue into adulthood.
  Some teachers have begun to incorporate stress-reduction techniques such as yoga, deep breathing and tai chi. Tai chi, an ancient martial arts form focused on slow meditative movements, is a relaxation activity with many benefits. Studies have shown that it enhances muscular strength and endurance, as well as cardiovascular endurance. It also provides psychological benefits such as improving general mental health, concentration, awareness and positive mood. It can be taught to any age student with little or no equipment, making it ideal for mixed ability and age classes. Tai chi can easily be incorporated into a holistic learning body and mind unit.
  Teaching non-traditional sports may also provide motivation for students to increase their activity, and can help them learn about different cultures. For example, while learning about lacrosse in the Southwestern United States, students might also learn about the Native American cultures of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada, where the sport originated. Teaching non-traditional (or non-native) sports provides an opportunity to integrate academic concepts from other subjects as well, which may now be required of many PE teachers. Non-traditional sports add benefits and challenges for those who often get easily distracted, are uncoordinated, or have less interest in traditional sports, which helps to make PE classes accessible to as wide a group of children as possible.
  
  PE is very important to students' health and overall well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that over the past three years obesity in children (ages 2–5) and adolescents (ages 12–19) has doubled because of diet and lack of activity. Since the 1970s the number of children who are obese has tripled. 
  SHAPE America's National Standards & Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education define what a student should know and be able to do as result of an effective physical education program.
  Another trend is the incorporation of health and nutrition into the physical education curriculum. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 required that all school districts with a federally-funded school meal program develop wellness policies that address nutrition and physical activity. While teaching students sports and movement skills, PE teachers are now incorporating short health and nutrition lessons into the curriculum. This is more prevalent at the elementary school level, where students do not have a specific Health class. Recently most elementary schools have specific health classes for students as well as physical education class. Due to the recent outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, school districts are making it mandatory for students to learn about practicing good hygiene along with other health topics. Children have a primary responsibility of attending school and providing evidence that they are achieving the content standards of their given grade level. If children engage in unhealthy behaviors like poor eating habits, obtaining an insufficient amount of sleep, or overindulging in screen time or other sedentary behaviors, they are less likely to experience developmentally appropriate learning.
  Today, many states require Physical Education teachers to be certified to teach Health courses. Many colleges and universities offer both Physical Education and Health as one certification. This push towards health education is beginning at the intermediate level, including lessons on bullying, self-esteem and stress and anger management.
  Research has shown that there is a positive correlation between brain development and exercising.
  Incorporating local indigenous knowledge into physical education can lead to
caption: A picture of a gymnasium in Oxford, circa 1858/59. Nineteenth-century trends in physical education included climbing and fencing.
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