In Health and Fitness: What is Physical Education?

Physical Education is an integral part of the educational program designed to promote the optimum development of the individual physically, socially, emotionally and mentally through total body movement in the performance of properly selected physical activities.

Objectives of Physical Education:

1. Physical Development

Through carefully selected physical education activities, an individual who participates actively will develop and maintain good health and a high level of physical fitness. The acquisition of physical skills can motivate an individual to participate further in physical activities, hence his growth and development will be enhanced. A person who is physically developed possesses the components of physical fitness, the strength, power, endurance, agility, flexibility, speed, balance, and coordination of his body parts. He is free from diseases and remediable defects.

2. Social Development

Participation in physical education activities provides opportunities for the development of desirable, social traits needed for adjustment to the social life in general.

• He acquires desirable interpersonal standards and ethical concepts.
• He is aware of his role as a member of the group and develop the "we" feeling of group consciousness.
• He is cooperative and exhibits further self-direction in a manner that will result in success for all members of the group competition.

3. Emotional Development

The informal nature of Physical Education activities offers opportunities for self-expression and emotional mastery

• He learns to control himself and acts wisely with courage when caught in stressful and emotionally intense situations.
• He finds joy and satisfaction in physical activities, his tensions are removed and this contributes to his ability to relax.
• He acquires a certain measure of success in performing a particular skill.
• He is able to establish a more positive self-concept.
• Self-confidence, self-control, self-reliance, courage and determination.

4. Mental Development

Through participation in physical education activities, the individual develop his mental capacities as he learns the mechanical principles underlying movement, as he acquires knowledge and understanding of rules and strategies of games and sports, and as he discovers ways of improving his movements in gymnastics and dance

• He is a person who is more alert and has trained his faculties effective study and work.
• He learns the mechanical principles underlying body movements.
• He acquires knowledge and understanding of the fundamental rules and strategies of sports.
• He develops concepts and learns to generalize.

Source, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Department of Education, Cebu City PH.