Leonardo

A History of Physical Education

  • First PE teacher

    Charles Beck becomes first PE teacher at Round Hill School in Northampton, Massachusetts. The school featured an outdoor gymnasium and the first gymnastics program.
  • First college gymnasium

    Charles Follen establishes the first college gym at Harvard.
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    Physical Education in America

    http://pebiography.com/physical-education-timeline
    http://www.nku.edu/~lipping/PHE125/timeline.pdf
    Info also derived from notes from KNES202 taught by Lenny Wiersma.
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    Emphasis on health

    These years marked an emphasis on health in schools. Doctors and physicians became the first PE educators.
  • First YMCA

    The first YMCA opens in Boston, MA.
  • Dr. Edward Hitchcock becomes first college PE professor

    Dr. Edward Hitchcock becomes first college PE professor at Amherst College. He worked as the school's medical doctor, collected health and anthropometric data, and led the gymnastics programs for the school.
  • California passes PE legislature

    California becomes the first state to pass PE legislation.
  • First 4-year degree established

    Oberlin College in Ohio becomes the first college to offer a four-year degree in physical education.
  • Creation of AAHPERD

    American Allience for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) is established.
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    Emphasis on sports

    These years marked an emphasis on sports in schools. Baseball, football, basketball, and volleyball all evolved during these years.
  • Basketball invented

    James Naismith invents the game of basketball at Springfield College.
  • First modern Olympics held in Athens, Greece.

    First modern Olympics held in Athens, Greece.
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) formed

    National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) formed.
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    Numerous states begin passing PE legislature

    Schools throughout numerous states are now required to include some sort of physical education and training.
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    Emphasis on physical fitness

    These years marked an emphasis on physical fitness in schools.
  • Little League Baseball founded by Carl Stoltz

    Carl Stoltz establishes Little League baseball.
  • America realizes poor state of physicality

    57% of children failed the Kraus-Weber Test of Minimum Muscular Fitness. In contrast, only 8% of European children failed this fitness test.
  • President Eisenhower implements the President's Council on Youth Fitness

    In response to the poor state of fitness in Americans, President Eisenhower responds with the President's Council on Youth Fitness.
  • Special Olympics begin

    Special Olympics begin.
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    Physical fitness craze

    The 1970s and 80s marked an explosion of recreational running, cycling, and home-based fitness machines and gimmicks.
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    Emphasis on the physical activity and health

    In these years, the emphasis shifted to promoting physical and health in schools.
  • PEP (Physical Education for Progress Act) bill is approved by congress

    PEP (Physical Education for Progress Act) bill is approved by congress.