|
Physical education has been an essential part of human culture
since ancient times. The Greeks and Romans recognized the value of physical
culture, placing it high on the list of noble virtues. The Greeks, in
particular, emphasized physical prowess, which imparted the stoic virtues of
physical courage and indifference to pain necessary in warfare and the battle of
life. The Romans, led by Emperor Nero, also embraced physical education,
competing for Olympic honors.
In the modern world, physical education has evolved into something different. It
began with a revival of the Olympic Games in the early 20th century, after
almost two millennia of local and sporadic games and athletics. The new idea of
physical education was based on the idea of healthy international competition
and physical education for its own sake as a means of raising standards. Today,
almost every child, young man, and woman in almost every country in the world
has a built-in aspiration to excel in some physical activity, thanks to an
unbroken series of Olympiads.
Physical education has become an integral part of school curriculums worldwide,
fostering the love of sports and physical activity. In earlier times, social and
dress conventions hampered women's participation, but today women and girls take
an active role in athletics, with some even outperforming men in certain sports.
Coaching and diet are designed to produce a physique that emphasizes speed,
suppleness, and wiriness, rather than body bulk and brute force.
The importance of correct, balanced feeding as the essential basis for the
athletic physique is now recognized globally. Fats and starches are avoided,
while foods containing protein and vitamins are encouraged. Adequate sleep and
personal hygiene, including abstinence from tobacco and alcohol, are also
critical for maintaining an athletic physique.
Competition and kudos are not the only motives for an interest in physical
education. Nowadays, the competent amateur in almost any sport is tempted to
become a paid professional, with rich prizes available to those who succeed in
the world of boxing, football, and tennis, among others. The professional
athlete enjoys world travel and sometimes world fame, doing much for their
country's image in the eyes of foreign nations.
Physical education provides an absorbing leisure activity that refreshes and
serves as a complete contrast to normal paid occupations. It builds resistance
to constitutional weakness and disease and helps maintain good health, even in
old age. Team sports, in particular, teach self-control of body and mind,
promoting essential merits learned in the process of playing with one's fellows.
However, excess in physical exertion has its dangers, and athletics should be
avoided by those with any weakness such as heart disease or blood pressure.
Common sense and a doctor's advice should guide those individuals. Physical
education should not become a fetish, with athletes on a higher pedestal than
doctors, teachers, or even statesmen. An active mind is worth more than an
active body, and the world requires brains rather than brawn.
In conclusion, physical education has come a long way from ancient times,
evolving into something that emphasizes healthy competition and personal
development. It is an excellent thing in its place, providing a means of
physical and mental growth while promoting good health and self-control. |
