physical education
noun
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The Importance (Linguistic and Otherwise) of Physical Education
Physical education has existed since ancient times, but it wasn’t until several hundred years ago that the term itself (abbreviated as phys ed or PE) came into being. Its earliest known use comes, oddly enough, from a 1748 book titled Critical Reflections on Poetry, Painting, and Music: “Cannot some years prove more favorable than others to the physical education of children. . . ?” A few decades after these words were published, gymnasiums opened across Europe, especially in Germany, where gymnastics associations (or turnvereins) fostered physical health as well as civic involvement and cultural enrichment. Thanks in part to immigration, these clubs, and European enthusiasm for athletics in general, spread to the U.S. During the 19th century, American educators adopted European methods of teaching physical training, and both the word physical education and the phenomenon it represents became well established in this country.
Examples of physical education in a Sentence
Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, Moore recently transferred to another school within the district, Christensen Middle School, to teach physical education.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
The California Department of Education has no rules on when severe weather should prompt the cancellation or modification of physical education classes.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
The family of the 15-year-old student who drowned last year during a physical education class at Whiteland Community High School has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the school district, alleging the district didn’t do enough to protect the student who had a recorded disability.
—Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2024
Many of the vacant positions are in areas the district promised to grow: art, music, physical education, early childhood and support staff.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024
The school’s physical education teacher, Brian McAllister, chose students to be divvied up between a red team and a blue team.
—Nicole Asbury, Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2024
There were only 16 of us in the health and physical education program.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2024
There also are two years of science, including biological and physical sciences and three of social studies, as well as two years of physical education, one year of visual or performing arts, world language, or career technical education.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'physical education.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near physical education
Cite this Entry
“Physical education.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physical%20education. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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