Welcome to what I hope will be an ever growing site filled with fun, interesting
and intriguing facts on the history of physical education. Look for some new surprises every few months. Don't forget
to check the archives for past History Bits
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Do you ever wonder where some of the words we use in physical education come from? They originate from combinations
of different Latin and Greek words. But mainly the Greek. The Greeks were the epitome (a greek word meaning prototype
or abridgment) of the standards of physical training and culture.
Here is a list of words with their origins and meanings:
Apparatus - From the Latin word "apparare", to prepare meaning a group of devices used for a particular purpose.
Anthropomorphic - From the Greek words "anthropikos", human being and "morphic" meaning having a specified
shape or form. Calisthenics - From the Greek words "kalos", beautiful and "sthenos" for strength.
Meaning exercises without the use of any apparatus Coordination - From the Latin word "ordinatus", to arrange".
The physiological meaning being the harmonious functioning of muscles or groups of muscles in the execution of movements.
Cardiovascular - From the Greek word "kardio", heart and the Latin word "vasculum", vessel. Meaning
relating to or involving the heart and the blood vessels. Exercise - From the Latin words "ex-" and "arcere", to
restrain. Bodily exertion for the sake of keeping the organs and functions in a healthy state. Flexibility
- From the Latin word "flexus", to bend. Gymnastics - From the Greek words "gumnos" or sometimes "gymnos",
naked. Gymnasium - From the Greek word "gumnasion" or "gumnazein" meaning to exercise naked. A place where
Greek youths exercised. Kinesiology - From the Greek words "kinesis", movement and -ology for branch of
learning. Baron Nils Posse was the first to coin this word in relation to his Swedish gymnastics. Pedagogue - From
the Greek words "paido-", boy and "agogos", leader. It now means a schoolteacher or an educator. It was literally
a slave who supervised children and took them to and from school. Pedagogy - From the Greek "see above". The art
or profession of teaching. Physical Education - From the Latin words "physica", physics and " educatio" Meaning
the training of the bodily organs and powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor. Physiology - From
the Greek words "phusio", nature and -ology for branch of learning. The branch of the biological sciences dealing with
the processes and functions of an organism. In Physical Education it is mainly Human Physiology which applies to a study of
the functions of the organs and tissues in man.
Special thanks go out to: Mark Manross from PE Central and to Dr. Donna Woolard (PE Praxis) from Campbell University for their help in reviewing this site.
