Movement education: Past, present, and future : The trace of the history in United States

Abstract

As a curriculum and pedagogic concept in elementary school physical education, "movement education" emerged from relative obscurity in the late 1950s to broad use through the early 1980s. It did so, in several "movements," or stages, each of which lasted for about a decade. Movement education first appeared in the elementary school literature in 1958, and for most of the ensuing decade the term embraced a new category of activities to be included as part of a physical education program. By 1969, however, the term had begun to denote a more integrated, theoretically informed and philosophically unique total program. Some researchers, however, threw the effectiveness of movement education, motor skills, physical fitness levels and cardiorespiratory abilities into doubt. Suggestions have been made that should serve as the basis for further research in order that a theoretical framework be established relative to movement education training.