Physical education

In most educational systems, physical educationmiddle schools and high schools vary widely from
(PE), also called physical training (PT) or gym instate to state.
less progressive settings, is a course in theIn France, physical education is required from age
curriculum which utilizes learning in the cognitive,6 to age 16 (mandatory schooling period). It is
affective and psycho motor domains in a play oractually taught by specialized state teachers to all
movement exploration setting. In the Unitedsecondary school students, mostly in
States, it is almost always mandatory forcoeducational classes : 4 hours/week at age 11, 3
students in elementary schools, and often forhours/week from age 12 to 15 and 2 hours/week
students in middle schools and high schools.from age 16 to 18. National programs and
The primary aim of physical education is to equipcontents refer to the contemporary physical
students with the knowledge, skills, capacities, andculture: sports, dance and circus.
values along with the enthusiasm to maintain aIn the United Kingdom, sports like netball, cricket
healthy lifestyle into adulthood. Some schools alsoand rugby are also played.
require physical education as a way to promoteIn Romania and Moldova, oina (which is similar to
weight loss in students. Activities included in thebaseball), rugby, basketball and soccer are popular
program are designed to promote physical fitness,sports played in PE classes.
to develop motor skills, to instill knowledge andIn New Zealand and Australia, softball, cricket,
understanding of rules, concepts, and strategies,Australian rules football and sometimes rugby are
and to teach students to work as part of aplayed.
team, or as individuals, in a wide variety ofIn Japan, physical education is more like what are
competitive activities.known as health classes in the United States,
In all states in the United States, physicalalthough some Japanese high schools, especially in
education is offered to students from grades KHokkaido, have the more common version.
to 12. However, Illinois is the only state thatIn Sweden, sports like floorball and brannboll are
requires physical education in all schools (evenplayed, along with internationally known sports
private schools) for all grade levels. Mandatorysuch as soccer, basketball and volleyball.
physical education is up to each individual StateIn Spain, sports like soccer, basketball, handball
and school district. Most States do require physicaland volleyball are played from primary education
education 6th-9th grade and offer "elective"to bachillerato.
physical education classes 10th-12th grades. ManyThere is some disagreement about required PE
school districts, especially those with limitedclasses, especially in the upper grades and at the
budgets, cut back or eliminate on physicalcollege level. Physical Education is promoted as a
education from the curriculum. About two dozenway to teach students about teamwork and
states required physical education in secondarysports, but also is a means to develop and
schools in 2001, that number has since gonemaintian physical fitness. The latter goal requires
down.regular activity. PE grading scales should be based
In Canada, physical education is required up toon more than just athletic ability so that students
grade 10, although some provinces are consideringwho do not excel in sports have an opportunity
extending this to grade 12. In the United States,to receive respectable grades, as these grades
individual states determine the requirement formay be included in their GPA (which colleges look
physical education in their schools; requirements inat when considering students for admission).