Introduction

A sound mind is in a sound body in a sound environment. Every person must possess a healthy mind: to have a healthy mind one must have a healthy physique. Healthy persons could alone make a healthy society. Physical Education may provide the right direction and needed actions to improve the health of members of any community, society, nation and the world too. Therefore an educational system encompassing the mental, emotional, social and physical dimensions of health becomes imperative to bring about all around development in children which, in turn, would pave way for the development of healthy society.

Meaning of Physical Education

The word physical education comprises of two words Physical and Education. The plain dictionary meaning of word physical as relating to body characteristics of a person such as physical strength, physical endurance, physical fitness physical appearance or physical health. The word education may mean the systematic instructions or training or preparation for some particular task. The two words combined together stands for the systematic instructions or training related to physical activities or programme of activities necessary for development and maintenance of human body or the development of physical powers or activities for cultivating physical skills.

Definition of Education and Physical Education

“Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man’. – Vivekananda

“By Education I mean an all round drawing out of the best in child and man, body, mind and spirit”. – M.K. Gandh

“Physical Education is education through physical activities to the development of total personality of the child and its fulfilment and perfection in body mind and spirit.” – J.P. Thomas

“Physical education is the sum of the changes in the individual caused by experiences centering motor activity’ – Cassidy

Aims of Physical Education

The aim of Physical Education is the same as that of general education, because physical education is a part of general education. The primary aim of physical education is not to develop star athletes winning teams or expert performance but a national vitality with character values and physical fitness. Ministry of Education National plan of physical education and recreation. expressed that the aim of physical education must be to make every child physically, mentally and emotionally fit and also to develop in him such personal and social qualities as will help him to live happily with others and build him up as a good citizen.

Butcher listed the aims of physical education as follows:

(i) Physical development.

(ii) Mental balance

(iii)Emotional adjustment

(iv) Manual training

(v) Social adaptability