A Historical Reinterpretation of the Forces Underlying the First State Legislation for Physical Education in the Public Schools of the U.S.

Abstract

During the twentieth century state legislative action has provided a broad base for the positive development of physical education programs in the nation's public schools. State legislation for physical education, extremely limited and often abortive in its infancy during the second half of the nineteenth century, has now reached almost avalanche-like proportions. Prior to the twentieth century few attempts were made by any of the United States to instrument governmental action on the subject of physical education — a subject which, even then, was becoming of increasing concern to educators and certain factions of the lay public. In an investigation of the country's first state laws for physical education, California emerges as the “founding father.” Further, three rather distinct factors underlying the state's pioneer efforts must be considered as having been instrumental in the evolutionary process. They are: (1) John Swett; (2) the early California Turners; and (3) Adele Parot. All three forces combined to lay a foundation and erect a framework for legislation leading to physical education in the nation's public schools.