By Yaseen Hamid Bhat
Physical education is globally accepted as a curricular activity and is part and parcel of child’s education. Physical education as the name suggests is an integral part of education which uses movement as the medium of education. Movement is the gift of nature and through this gift children begin their growth and development. “ physical education is an integral part of the total education process and has its aim the development of physically, mentally, emotionally and socially fit citizens through the medium of physical activities which have been selected with a view to realizing these outcomes” according to Charles Bucher. Physical education is therefore a process which relies on physical activities for realizing the objectives, it tries to bring about desirable changes in the behavior and attitudes of individuals through physical activities. It is not merely an activity but a process. As per National Plan of Physical Education and Recreation- 1956, the aim of physical education must be to make every child physically, mentally, emotionally fit and also to develop in him/her such personal and social qualities which would help him/her to live happily with others and build up as a good citizen.
What are the Misconceptions among people regarding physical education?
The first misconception among people regarding physical education is they consider physical education is about playing games and sports like football, hockey, cricket, races and other competitive activities. However this is also not true, physical education does not produce players but it produces teachers and trainers to teach the blooming buds, Games and sports is a good medium to achieve its objectives.
Students who opt for physical education as 5th subject in 11th & 12th class. People think that this is just a rest period as it does not have any academic value. This opinion is also wrong as this subject is very dynamic as well as demanding which represents one character of academics.
Physical education believes in gender equality, yet people believe physical education is not girls’s cup of tea, girls are being stopped when they want to take physical education as their career or becoming professional in sports, the reasons are many like sexual comments, social hindrance, less role models compared to males, male coaches, no separate grounds for girls etc. I being a student of B ped 2017 batch of Govt college of physical education we also have less percentage of girl students in our batch yet a girl namely Danishta Mushtaq becomes topper leaving male students far behind, so this perception regarding physical education is also wrong.
People believe physical education has no Job Career it’s only for part time hobby but today special attention is given to sportspersons for selection in various competitive examinations. There are many jobs for sportspersons in various departments. In many professions sportsmen are given good reservaions.
People also have misconception that physical education is for wealthy persons only because it requires special type of equipment, apparatus, playfield, etc. which are costly, but these days many facilities are provided by the government in the form of scholarships, awards and stipends to the sports persons. The government has set up various institutions which provide free education, diet, equipment, etc to sportsmen.
When people think about physical education. They think it must be done in a large space with a large number of people, Many people do not have access to a large space or cannot go outside due to extreme weather conditions or health issues. Physical Education or movement training can be done in a small space such as a living room Children can learn to skip, hop and jump in a small indoor space. Basic strength training can also be done at home. Therefore this perception is also wrong.
People think physical education teacher (PET) is just a whistle master but a physical educationist is a human engineer having knowledge of Anatomy, physiology, research, statistics, information & communication technology (ICT), kinesiology, biomechanics, management, nutrition etc a physical educationist is jack of all trades master of none so to consider a PET whistle master is totally injustice and discrimination.
whereas, general education is considered to be superior over physical education. However if good prevails and due place is given to it in our education system then India can surpass the people of many progressive countries like Russia, America, France and Japan etc. Government has to understand that the physical education is not merely a physical activity like body building but it has a wider aim of total development of an individual i.e., physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development.
The author can be reached at yaseenbhatt@gmail.com
