Humanistic Physical Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This book demonstrates the application of humanistic goals and methods to physical education programs and patterns of physical activity. It describes the potential contributions of physical education to people's social and emotional well-being, and the forces in American culture which constrain the development of physical education in this direction. The book presents both a humanistic point of view and specific suggestions for implementing this point of view. It concludes with an extended discussion of the prospects for change and methods for achieving humanistic goals in physical education programs. The book also (a) stresses the application of theory and research to the conduct of physical education, rather than the currently popular "body of knowledge" approach, or the traditional data-free "education through the physical" approach; (b) includes specific recommendations for implementing a humanistic physical education program both in schools and in various nonschool instructional programs for both young and old; and (c) analyzes two key cultural questions: Why have humanistically oriented physical education programs not been popular in the American culture? Is this trend likley to continue? (Author/PB)