-
Friedrich Jahn
"The father of our more modern physical education classes." Friedrich Jahn was a teacher that introduced his students to outdoor physical education activities in the early 1800's.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/physical-education-history-major-contributors.html -
Catharine Beecher
Catharine Beecher was a founding mother of physical education for girls in America.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/physical-education-history-major-contributors.html -
Charles Beck
Charles Beck brought gymnastics to the United States from Germany in 1825 when he began teaching in Northampton, Massachusetts.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/physical-education-history-major-contributors.html -
Charles Follen
Charles Follen, also from Germany, founded the first college gymnasium at Harvard University in 1826.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/physical-education-history-major-contributors.html -
Exercise in California Public Schools
In 1866, California became the first state in the country to pass a law requiring students to participate in two exercise periods a day in public schools.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/physical-education-history-major-contributors.html -
AAAPE
The American Association for the Advancement of Physical Education is founded in 1885. -
SHAPE America
in 1885, SHAPE America (Society of Health and Physical Educators) was founded and has defined excellence in physical education in the US.
https://www.shapeamerica.org/about/ -
Ohio
in 1892, Ohio passes a mandatory physical education law for students in public schools. -
John Dewey
John Dewey, an American psychologist who led a progressive education movement in America pushed for reforms in the education system.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/physical-education-history-major-contributors.html -
Physical Education Legislation in US Public Schools
By 1925, 34 more states passed laws requiring physical education classes in public schools. -
AAHPER Fitness Test
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation test was created in 1957 to evaluate muscular strength, flexibility, agility, cardiovascular endurance, and coordination.
https://www.sportzyogi.com/aahper-youth-fitness-test/ -
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
President Kennedy reforms the Council on Youth Fitness started by President Einsenhower and in 1961 it ultimately becomes the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/presidents-council -
Presidential Physical Fitness Award
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Presidential Physical Fitness Award Program acknowledging students that met or exceeded the 85th percentile on all seven test items.
https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/presidents-council/programs-awards/presidential-youth-fitness-program -
Public Law 90-170
in 1967, this law required schools to ensure students with disabilities also received a quality physical education especially in the coordination and motor skills areas.
https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/apaq/3/2/article-p124.xml -
Special Olympics
July 1968, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, the first special olympics competition is held giving young people with intellectual disabilities to show the world what the could do not what they couldn't.
https://www.specialolympics.org/about/history/1968-games -
Title IX
In 1972, congress passed the Title IX Law making it illegal to discriminate against a person on the basis of their sex from participating in sports or being part of any educational program.
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html -
Public Law 94-142
In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed into law the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142) guaranteeing a free and appropriate public education for all kids with disabilities in every state in the US.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-89/pdf/STATUTE-89-Pg773.pdf -
Healthy People
The Healthy People Initiative was founded by Surgeon General Julius Richmond in 1979 to promote better health and disease prevention.
https://health.gov/our-work/national-health-initiatives/healthy-people/about-healthy-people/history-healthy-people -
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the month of May 1983 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month to urge schools, communities, and states to organize activities to get kids and adults more active.
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5056-national-physical-fitness-and-sports-month-1983 -
SPARK
In 1989, SPARK (Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids Programs began studying elementary physical education.
https://rmpe.appstate.edu/home-school-pe/spark