Various philosophies clashed at the 1889 A Conference in the interest of Physical Training in Boston. This is commonly referred to the "Battle of the Systems."

German System (Turners): Objected to stress placed on games and sports in American society. Major purpose of gymnastics is to provide for physical, moral, and social training of youth. Jahn, Follen, Beck, Lieber.

Swedish System: Health is the harmonious relationship of the nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems. Ling, Nissen, Hemenway, Posse.

French (Delsarte) System: Physical exercises that stress poise, grace, and beauty that are conducive to acting and singing. Read more »

Benjamin Franklin: Late 1700s physical activity was incorporated in his school, Philadelphia Academy.

Friederich Jahn: German who began Turnverein movement emphasizing gymnastics for physical activity. The Turner movement took hold in Midwestern cities.

Charles Follen: Follower of Jahn who fled from political persecution in Germany. Was employed as instructor of German at Harvard. Established gymnastics program and the first college gymnasium in the US. Read more »

Presented by Don Lawrence, EdD at the Western States Kinesiology Society Annual Conference
October  2009, Reno, Nevada 

In our modern world, the state of biographical production is not as healthy as it was in past.  Read more »

HELEN MANLEY: A PIONEER OF THE PAST WHO WENT WHERE OTHERS WOULD NOT GO! 

Donald J. Lawrence, Ed.D, Professor, Department of Advanced Studies, Azusa Pacific University 

Presentation at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Annual Convention, Baltimore, Maryland , March 15, 2007 

      Throughout centuries man has recorded history diligently.  His penchant in this activity speaks of his desire to leave a portion of himself and his world to those who will follow.  Such is the case in man’s desire to record the lives of those around us who have

had a considerable impact on our world.  They are and have been such powerful models and influences on our individual lives as well as our discipline and profession as a whole.

      Boswell states that “I esteem biography as giving us what comes near to ourselves” (Novarr, 1986). But, in our modern world, the state of biographical production is not as healthy as it was in the past.  Hormberger and Charmley’s observations seem to reflect our present day society’s attitude: Read more »

LEONA HOLBROOK:   A PIONEER OF THE PAST WHO SHAPED OUR PRESENT DAY PROFESSION 

Donald J. Lawrence, Ed.D, Professor, Department of Advanced Studies, Azusa Pacific University 

Presentation at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Annual Convention, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 27, 2006 

      In 1981, during my doctoral work at Brigham Young University, I was privileged that first summer session, to take Dr. Ruel Barker’s course “History of Physical Education”.  Dr. Barker shared with us that one of the great leaders in the profession, Dr. N. P. Neilson was scheduled to speak to our class about his involvement with AAHPER and how he was influential in AAHPER’s growth and development throughout the years. As Dr. Neilson shared with us that day, I grasped an appreciation that history is a predictor of the future, and, if we do not capture the stories and legacies of those that have gone before us, the part they played in the grand scheme of things would be lost forever.  Read more »

Presented by Ruel Barker (Emeritus, BYU), at the Western States Kinesiology Society Annual Conference October 2009, Reno, Nevada

Presented by Jerry Landwer (UNLV), at the Western States Kinesiology Society Annual Conference October 2009, Reno, Nevada.

Presented by Don Lawrence, EdD, Azusa Pacific University 
at The Annual Christian Society of Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, Seattle Pacific University, June 13, 2008 

      Throughout centuries man has recorded history diligently.  His penchant in this activity speaks of his desire to leave a portion of himself and his world to those who will follow.  Such is the case in man’s desire to record the lives of those around us who have

had a considerable impact on our world.  They are and have been such powerful models and influences on our individual lives as well as our discipline and profession as a whole.

      Boswell states that “I esteem biography as giving us what comes near to ourselves” (Novarr, 1986). But, in our modern world, the state of biographical production is not as healthy as it was in the past.  Hormberger and Charmley’s observations seem to reflect our present day society’s attitude: Read more »

Did you like these biographies? In 2010, a project is planned to collect biographies of all the physical education pioneers and place them in one online location. This will serve as a comprehensive resource, or database, of all key historical figures in physical education.

Description: Consideration of the historical, philosophical, and ethical foundations of physical education and health. Exploration of contemporary values, issues, and controversies concerning sport and wellness.