State School Education & Changing Syllabuses

Question 0

What were these schools like?

Answer 0

Small, no space or recreational facilities
Free for poor
Made school attendance compulsory between the ages 5-13
School days
Mixed sex
Local

Question 1

Due to the 1870 Forster Education Act what happened?

Answer 1

Schools built if churches thought it necessary

Question 2

What did the Forster education act lead to?

Answer 2

The establishment of school boards in each area - these were responsible for providing schooling for all children in their area

Question 3

What games did they play during playtime?

Answer 3

Blind mans buff
Snakes and ladders
Hide-and-seek 
Hopscotch
Boys played football with a pigs bladder

Question 4

PE in the early phase consisted of …

Answer 4

Swedish gymnastics

Question 5

Why did pe change?

Answer 5

Boer war - guerrilla tactics had stumped the British generals - scapegoat, blamed the working class soldiers for lack of fitness

Main reason thought: Swedish gymnastics

Question 6

What was the model course?

Answer 6

Military drill exercises set up by the government in 1902 as a response to the poor fitness of working-classes soldiers during the Boer War

Question 7

What were the aims of the model course?

Answer 7

To teach discipline to the working class children

To improve basic health & fitness

To familiarise with weapons

Encourage teamwork

To prepare WC children for war a - help children withstand hardship

Question 8

What were the characteristics of model course?

Answer 8

Direct command army sounds
Army officers in authority 
Working class children (5-13)
Undifferentiated treatment 
Regimented in structure and routine
Included marching & drill staves, acting as rifles
Content=set exercises by numbers

Question 9

Positives of model course:

Answer 9

Asserted authority and discipline
Cheap (large numbers taught in small space)
Help children withstand hardship 
Designed to increase fitness to fight
Become familiar with military weapons

Question 10

Negatives of model course:

Answer 10

Not very beneficial to overall health and fitness
No account for children’s needs
Very unchildlike (adult exercises)
No differentiation on the basis of age or gender
Little educational development or benefit (no cross-curriculum)
Military emphasis too strong
Royal commission summarises it as unsatisfactory

Question 11

What did the 1904 syllabus of training do?

Answer 11

Replaced the model course in an attempt to bring educational values into physical training
Most school boards reinstated Swedish ‘therapeutic’ gymnastics

Question 12

What is meant by therapeutic ?

Answer 12

Relating to exercises and practices to maintain health

Question 13

Development of gymnastics 1904:

Answer 13

Based on Swedish system: scientific principles
More pupils at a time
Improved fitness and posture
Allowed for variety of venues
No apparatus needed
Used command approach=discipline
Developed alertness, decision- making, skill

Question 14

What was the 1906 education act concerned with?

Answer 14

The welfare of the working class children

Question 15

Open spaces act improved what?

Answer 15

Urban leisure provision with the development of more public parks

Question 16

What did the 1909 syllabus of training do?

Answer 16

Swedish system - more games and recreation activities
Physical training compulsory, examined as part of teaching courses
Therapy based
Slightly less centralised
Social value of games recognised
Still free-standing exercises
Included Danish swinging exercises

Question 17

How did the 1909 syllabus change from 1904 syllabus?

Answer 17

More games and recreative activities
Physical training compulsory & examined
More therapy based
Less centralised

Question 18

Social consequences of WW1:

Answer 18

Anti-militaristic feelings
Status/role of women increased
Changing view of children - protection, healthy childlike upbringing
Demand for a more equal society (age groups, class system PE questioned, gender)
Flu epidemic -
Emphasised needs for health & hygiene
Concerns over lack of soldier’s fitness - gvnment value benefits of pe

Question 19

What was change needed?

Answer 19

Flu & WWI = many lives lost

Extended value of health and hygiene

Question 20

What did the 1919 syllabus of training do?

Answer 20

Differentiation

Question 21

Differentiation for younger children involved:

Answer 21

Half of each lesson for free movement
Games & dancing
Responsibility with class teacher
Freedom, discovery & initiative encouraged

Question 22

Differentiation for older children:

Answer 22

Still based on therapeutic exercises 
Direct command of whole class
Reflection of society - working classes knew their place

Question 23

What did the 1933 syllabus of training do?

Answer 23

Leaving age = 14
Still largely therapeutic 
Benefits of gymnastics & games recognised (apparatus & equipment)
Focus on skill development 
Play - use of imagination encouraged 
Group work at different levels 
Early decentralisation of what to teach

Question 24

What benefits did the 1933 syllabus of training recognise?

Answer 24

Benefits for posture;
Character building
Initiative development

Question 25

Why was the 1933 syllabus introduced?

Answer 25

1930s = industries depression (unemployment) 
Fitness 
Therapeutic
Physique 
Holistic - developed mind & body 
Skills & posture 
Outdoor lessons for health