Comprehensive Notes on Movement Competency training and Physical Education

Definition of Physical Education

Physical Education is an integral part of the education program purposely designed to promote the optimum development of the individual physically, socially, emotionally, and mentally through total movement in the performance of properly selected physical activities. This definition, as articulated in 2002 by Andin, emphasizes that physical education is not merely about exercise but is a comprehensive approach to human development through movement.

Legal Bases of Physical Education

The practice of Physical Education and Sports is recognized as a fundamental right for all individuals. This principle is established in Article 1 of the International Charter of Physical Education and Sports, UNESCO, Paris, 1978, and further supported by Recommendation 1 of the Interdisciplinary Regional Meeting of Experts on Physical Education held in Brisbane, Australia, in 1982. This legal framework asserts that the right to physical education should not be treated as inherently different in principle from the right to adequate food, shelter, and medical care.

In the Philippine context, the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, under Article XIV, Section 19, mandates that the State shall promote Physical Education and encourage sports programs, league competitions, and amateur sports. This includes training for international competition to foster self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a healthy and alert citizenry. Furthermore, the constitution dictates that all educational institutions shall undertake regular sports activities throughout the country in cooperation with athletic clubs and other sectors of society.

Historical Timeline of Physical Education in the Philippines

The formal integration of physical activity into the Philippine education system began in 1901, when physical exercise was introduced as one of the subjects in public schools and a regular program of athletics was developed. In 1920, Physical Education was elevated to a required subject in the curriculum of all public schools. This was further expanded in 1937, when Physical Education was made a curricular subject specifically within the secondary school curriculum.

In 1969, the School of Physical Education and Sports Development Act of 1969 was enacted. This act detailed a program of activities that included five major priorities: a Program of Health Education and Nutrition, a Program of Physical Fitness for all pupils, a program of competitive athletics, a Program of Intramurals and inter-unit athletic competition within schools, districts, and provinces, and annual athletic competitions within and among regions. Later, in 1982, the learning area known as MAPE was introduced, which integrated music, arts, and physical education into a single field of study.

Functions of Physical Education

Physical Education serves three primary functions in the development of a person. The Biologic Function refers to the enhancement of the individual’s growth and development through body movement. The Integrative Function refers to the personality integration achieved through participation in properly selected activities, as noted by Andin in the works of Eviza et al. The Social Function refers to the provision of opportunities for the individual to acquire desirable social values through participation in physical-social activities.

Objectives of Physical Education

Physical Development is a core objective where, 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, thereby enhancing the healthy growth and development of each learner.

Social Development involves participation in Physical Education activities that provide opportunities for the acquisition and practice of desirable social traits necessary for adjustment to happy living and social life in general. These traits include friendliness, cooperation, respect for the rights of others, good sportsmanship, good leadership and followership, and honesty in group competition.

Emotional Development is fostered through the informal nature of Physical Education, which offers opportunities for the development of expression and emotional traits needed for emotional mastery. These traits include self-confidence, self-control, self-reliance, courage, determination, and personal discipline.

Mental Development occurs through participation in Physical Education activities as the individual develops mental capacities. This happens through learning the mechanical principles underlying movement, acquiring knowledge and understanding of the rules and strategies of games and sports, following dance instructions, and discovering ways of improving movements in gymnastics and dance. It also fosters the ability to analyze and give judgments.

New Directions and National Goals

Educational efforts are directed towards the development of national goals for the Philippines as a developing country, as outlined in Presidential Decree No. 6-A, titled the Educational Development Decree of 1972. The specific goals of this decree are to achieve and maintain an accelerating rate of economic development and social progress, to assure the maximum participation of all the people in the attainment and enjoyment of the benefits of such growth, and to strengthen national consciousness and promote desirable cultural values in a changing world.

Purposes of Physical Education as Identified by Specialists

Physical Education specialists in the country have identified five key purposes for the discipline. The first is to develop optimum physical fitness and health so that an individual is capable of living the good life and contributing their maximum capacity to the attainment of the goals of the "New Society." The second purpose is to produce individuals who can contribute to economic well-being.

The third purpose is to train good leaders with moral integrity of the highest order and to develop other desirable traits necessary for effective group participation or group living essential to the New Society. Fourth, the discipline aims to develop creativity and innovativeness inspired by an abiding faith in God and love of country and fellowmen. Finally, Physical Education serves to instill a love and pride for their preservation and to develop an understanding of the culture of others to foster a feeling of international brotherhood and unity.