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In the early 1700s, both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson voiced the belief that physical education should be a part of general education in schools.
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From the 1700s to the 1800s, physical education in America was under construction because of all of the changes America was going through. So many people were moving West and what with the Civil War, there just wasn't time to place importance on physical education.
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In 1823 at Round Hill School in Massachusetts, Charles Beck became the first physical education teacher in America.
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Charles Follen, an early leader of German gymnastics, brought gymnastics to America.
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In 1826 on Harvard's campus, Follen opens the first college gymnasium.
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Follen opened up the first public gymnasium in Boston, Massachusetts in 1826.
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In 1851, the North American YMCA is founded. It provided physical training to make well-rounded young men.
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Catherine Beecher introduces a less physical gymnastic program for women.
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Dr. Hartwig Nissen introduces the Swedish gymnastic system to Boston schools which focuses more on a therapeutic approach.
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Dr. Sargent opened the Harvard Summer School for Physical Education where he trained physical education teachers.
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The military realized that the American soldiers were out of shape along with the American youth, so schools were required to have physical training.
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America is going through a poor economic condition because of the stock market crash and WWII. A lot of cuts are being made and physical education was one of them
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The children of America were again found to be in really bad physical condition. President Johnson started the President's Fitness Award program.
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Because of the concern over the content standards and accountability of schools the National Association for Sport and Physical Education created standards for what a student should know and be able to do
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Students learned to play games while being a part of a team. Under the guidance of the teacher, the team decided all aspects of the team.
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On-line classes can stop kids from being active. 22 states allow students to earn physical education credits by taking an on-line course
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Obesity has been a rising consern for the American population. Federal funding has increased to try tostop this problem, but it will only stop if people start being more health conscious and more physicaly active
