Abstract
This paper is intend to ascertain the mentality, that is to say professional attitude of American physical educators toward at the turn of the 20th century. Up to that time, athletic sports have undergone new and startling developments. Then first national association to represent professional workers interested in physical education have already organized at 1885. This organization is known by the name of the "American Association for the Advancement of Physical Education" (AAAPE.). It is confirmed that the membership of the AAAPE has predominated by major two groups. First group is made up of teachers in higher educational institutions, namely, colleges and universities. Second group is made up of teachers in YMCA institutions. Disputes over a point of promoting in physical education and historical facts cited in this paper are based on the growing process of the AAAPE and the American Physical Education Association(APEA), which is changed the name of AAAPE in 1903. Essential purports of this paper are as follow. Professional attitude of physical educators toward sports are characterized by the disgust or the prejudice against violent competition and excessive exercise, which have become increasingly conspicuous in collegiate athletics. These are reflected on the professional anxiety of physical educators that the enticement into collegiate athletics, must be hostile to the normal practice of gymnastic education. Physical educators who are typically able to take a position of college teacher recommend proudly their physical training systems with intent to make prescription with gymnastics. It seems to be a reactive attitude that does not cope with the transition of physical education at that day. The content of physical education has been making a transition from the gymnastics program to the sports program. Physical educators who are typically able to take a position of YMCA teacher hopefully recommend game and sport activities for the expectation of educational effect. They modify(and/or deform)games and sports according to their educational needs and they make practical applications of these activities to bring up harmonious all-round men. It seems to be a flexible attitude that promotes physical education adapted to the times.
