THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES: SOLUTIONS AND TRENDS

Abstract

The article deals with the Physical Education in the United States in private and public environments, where one fourth of the students does not have physical education (60 million students). Illinois is the only state where physical education is a requirement for every student. Classes are not longer that 33 minutes daily and 4 hours and 90 minutes weekly. There are only a few situations when the classes take place more often than three times a week. It is worth registering the pressure made by school authorities favoring physical education by means of several laws and curricula also including the physically disabled citizens. Since 1980, the United States has started giving more value to physical fitness as a means to health due to the high rates of obesity in childhood and adolescence. The U.S.A has started considering physical activities as part of the whole of people's lives. They have started highlighting the methods, the need of Physical Education, the physical activities values, leisure and the intentions of legislative changes. As a trend, however, the author shows that there is polarization and the practice of activities by adults in their own homes. From what is evidenced, there is optimism related to the improvement of physical education in the country.