| （College of Physical Education，South China Normal University，Guangzhou 510631，China） Abstract: By reviewing the development of physical education ideology in the United States, the author analyzed modern US scholars’ understanding of physical education, further identified the similarities and differences between such two physical education views as “education through the physical” and “education of the physical”, and drew the following conclusions: the main difference between such two physical education views as “education through the physical” and “education of the physical” rests with physical education goals instead of physical education means; the “education through the physical” has various goals, which is in conformity with goal uniqueness, and in practice it shows as the teaching of sports techniques, while it is unknown whether or not its goals are realized; the “education of the physical” has only one specific goal, namely, to perfect the human body, and in practice it shows as the teaching of fitness knowledge and skills.
Key words: US physical education；education through the physical；education of the physical |
