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THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE
FOR THE PRACTICAL ORGANISATION
PHYSICAL
OF
EDUCATION
By
Dr. JOSEF RECLA
Principal of the Department of Physical Education
of the University of Graz, Austria.
Science is shortened experience.
THE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical education has changed fundamentally in our time. Physical
education was elevated from the mere physical scope into the spiritual,
set in the whole of culture, in the whole of human ecucation.
No longer can physcal education be regarded as a thing for itself.
Everyone responsible, for culture and education endeavours for meaning
ful physical education. Its exercises are no longer a matter of mere
dexterity, an ordinary curriculum subject - but a means of self-improvement
for every individual and an effective binding agent among peoples
and nations, with no regard to the restricting limits of society. One sided
nationalistic physical education has become a broad, international
physical education. Modern physical education includes all peoples of
all ages. To curricular physical education and to extra-curricular sport
is added the physical education, the facilities to which everyone has
access at any time.
Physical education today concerns everyone, for in the technical
age everyone needs sufficient exercise in happy company, not only
to remain healthy but fit for work. Today man needs physical exercise
to re-obtain the balance and harmony which he has lost. This harmony
in life of man today is the first aim of all physical education, no
matter whether it is done within the family, at school, or in a more or
less free group. The physical experience is at stake, which can form
and improve the whole man. Physical exercises offer the best opportunity
of knowing oneself, and others as well. The profound recognition
of our time is, that "physical education is spiritual education". Modern
physical education is capable of undertaking any task of education. The
change and the broadened tasks which are connected with it, make
increased demands of the character of physical education.
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