The history of physical education and sports

In the ancient Greeks era, sports were an essential part of education programs of 20^th century America.  From the brief history of sports, it was believed that sports make better people, promoting individual excellence in your life.  Over time, coaches, athletes and administrators at schools seem to have lost touch with the belief as they focus on winning when it comes to sports. But what exactly is winning!

What is winning?

The history of physical education and sports have one thing in common. There are set of rules that guide individuals.  In sports, winning is measured quantitatively, unlike the meaning of “winning” when it comes to life matters such as happiness and joy. When it comes to sports, winning is all about the person who accumulates the most points, is the fastest, gets to the finishing line, the first one and so on.

Athletic winners in modern society are praised, given riches and are made role models to children. On the other hand, successful businessmen and wealthy managers are not revered like the winning athletes.

The history of winning

One historical race was at Patroclus funeral games in the foot race account involving a goddess Athena who chose Odysseus as a winner.  The goddess ensures his victory through outside plots. Victory is bestowed on Odysseus because the goddess saw him fit to win as he had a lovely character. From the tale, indeed, athletic victory is still associated with traditional virtues because we push our children to be like famous athletic heroes like Michael Jordan.  A businessman arrested for drug trafficking does not attract more attention than a successful athlete arrested for drunk driving or a mere offence. Such confirms that sport should still be part of the education system due to the virtue element.

The virtues of winning

Articulating virtues are vital as winning and sports education depend on the association the winning has with virtues. You tend to dissociate with the form of victory that has no manifestation of virtue.  Plato identified piety, temperance, justice and courage as the virtues associated with victory. Piety revolved around knowing oneself and recognizing the imperfect human nature in relation to a supreme being to whom you owe your victory. Temperance comes with discipline, meaning an athlete should seek success but be keen about the limits mentally, physically and emotionally. The success of an athlete works from working within their limits.

Courage is another virtue associated with Socrates in the battle of Delium, who, on retreating, saved himself and others. Courage is capable of being cultivated through education. It involves moving forward with determination while having knowledge on how and when it is essential to revise set goals for a better outcome. Athletes need to master intelligence and toughness to handle a sporting challenge.

Justice is the virtue in sports that cover the inevitable outcome of any contest.  Athletes and their spectators at the beginning of a race need to believe that the outcome is undetermined.  The purpose of any game is void if the outcome is predetermined.

Conclusion

Since centuries ago, the goal of sports in education has not changed as it revolves around human excellence cultivation. The pursuit of victory needs to be understood and ascertained to be worthwhile by the athletes, coaches, and schools in sports programs. Not all wins can be categorized as victories. With such an understanding, the question of “what is winning?” can be closely examined and associated with virtues.

1. The Brazil 2016 Olympics

The sporting events of the Olympics in Brazil raised questions about why the country hosted the event when the people needed the money invested in other faculties such as education, medical care and for the poor. Rio De Janeiro was chosen nevertheless as host by the International Olympics Committee. Hosting Olympics may leave a country with a huge debt burden and is an opportunity for fostering competition. However, leaders still push for their countries to be considered for such significant events. Sports have been used as venues for countries to show their superiority and become obsessed with winning at the expense of the morals and well-being of the citizens. Russia, Brazil and China have a history of pushing to be hosts, with some having significant challenges they have failed to address.

2. Women in Sports

There are instances back in the history of the United States women’ national soccer team that had the Canadian Soccer Association, and FIFA sued for the artificial turf fields used in the 2015 Women’s World Cup.  The women felt being put to play on inferior surfaces compared to men who played on grass surfaces that were more preferred. The women backed down from the case creating a puzzling question of fairness as the final game of the women’s World Cup became the most-watched game in US history. Women are being put behind men all the time, and women pro leagues still struggling. Such a gap has never been fixed but what Congress can do to bridge the niche of inequality is not clear as they have not.

3. The FIFA takedown

End of 2015, plus 40 sports officials were found guilty of taking bribes and kickbacks, creating questions on how the International Sports Olympics contaminated global soccer to a point with a hike in corruption cases. The world most potent soccer officials in the world were arrested, proving trust issues with the leadership of international sports that often makes so much money with little oversight and accountability.

Conclusion

There are different issues surroundings sports and politics, as the fantasy football feuds by sports sites and the betting industry. The nature of such feuds raises questions about the legality of the practices in terms of being a game of chance or skill that is unregulated and exploits individuals. Reporting sports news and journalism has changed with restrictions on what to be aired or not. Other stories of characters such as Lance Armstrong’s life of doping and lies paint a picture of how politics and sports have been intertwined and can provide insight into how the role of politics in sports has changed.

Curriculum expectations of the guide

Carrying out exercises about the Wizard of Oz, you need to take note of some expectations.

1. You will learn to communicate effectively
2. Expression of feelings in an acceptable way should be achieved
3. Demonstration of respect when in groups is learnt
4. Communication of ideas and information to achieve a particular purpose with the right target audience gets easier.
5. Sorting and classification of information are made easier to help in identification and solving of problems with making of a decision in the community.

Historical background information about The Wizard of Oz classical

Lyman Frank Baum with William Denslow is the pair publishers of The Wizard of Oz that got to be a thriving classical in 1902. Baum, born in New York, grew to develop an interest in creative writing and telling of stories by the time he was 12 years old. He acted once in his lifetime to satisfy his interests and became manager at his father’s professional theatres.  He had a store that attracted children, which closed down after drought issues. As a result of piecing life together, Baum met Denslow, an illustrator and made his writing a reality on another level. Baum wrote more sequels to the Wizard of Oz together with books and articles.

Note of the Director of the film

Before the Wizard of Oz, the original novel was the Wonderful Wizard of Oz that covers aspects of Dorothy’s life in bleak surroundings. Her stay with her aunt Em and uncle Henry shows the threat of a cyclone to come and the pain that comes with hard work.  It is important to note that the land of Oz is the imagination build-up of Dorothy of a world where she escapes from misery. The film is a play of imagination that educates you on what shapes the definition of a human being and the ability to reshape your world and solve problems.

The land of Oz is like an “imagination game” with equivalent elements such as those mentioned to exist in the Kansas farmhouse that is part of the dream world of Dorothy. Your audience gets to a make-believe journey through Kansas, Oz, and returning home.

Questions to be addressed before the show

As a student, you need to define “home” and “family” plus understand how friendships are formed.  The other questions are what turn of event creates an unforgettable day and discover the characteristic you may be striving towards.

The Wizard of Oz film can be an activity for students to be performers and storytellers by simply creating the plot and acting it all over again.

Questions after the show

After the film, as any student, you need to understand why people still enjoy the story and what aspects about it, such as the age of Dorothy, the Wizard’s statements, the feelings of the characters, are enlightening to you.  The situation in Kansas and Oz need to be investigated to answer the questions that the film raises in your mind.

1. The silver coinage

The history of the United States dates back to a silver movement to promote silver coins because they were abundant for an extended period. In the Wizard of Oz, the silver coinage is represented by the silver shoes of Dorothy that she believed could not wear out and are suitable for long walks.  The Wicked Witch of the East is also for the silver shoes because of the charming connection. In the late 19^th century and early 20^th century in the US, bank bosses held power over money that could only be lessened by the addition of silver to the gold standard. Towards the Free Silver elections, farmers in the US grew tired of their frustrations and retaliated and elected sympathetic individuals in important official positions.

2. The gold standard

The late 1890s in the US had currency issues as gold was deemed insufficient and cornered by people like Jay Gold. Baum, the author of the Wizard of Oz, supported bimetallism and used the yellow brick road to symbolize the gold standard. The classical brought out the challenges farmers faced coupled with uncontrollable factors like droughts that addressed the gold standard’s problems.

3. Mid America/farmers at its best

The main character Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz represents Mid America, a region of open-hearted and honest farmers.  Dorothy had power over the silver shoes but was innocent of discovering them. Mid America had opportunities to implement silver but did not realize the power that comes with it. To America, the banker bosses exploited the nation’s people as Dorothy was done to, due to innocence.

4. A banker boss

In the late 1800s, banker bosses used interlocking directories and trusts to control businesses in the East. Child workers suffered as these bosses made profits. The Wicked Witch of Oz represents the banker bosses who had the Munchkins, representing the Jews and Italians, captives and servants.

5. A Midwestern farmer

The scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz symbolizes the Western farmer who fails to believe in their intellectual capabilities but is far much capable than they realize. During the drought worse phases in history, farmers pleaded to the government until the realization that they could save themselves. The production of more hurt them, but it was the way to make extra income. With increased production, prices went down, as illustrated by Baum’s scarecrow character who was without brains but solved some problems.

Conclusion

The Wizard of Oz characters presents symbolism in relation to various actors in the populism regime of the US.  An eastern industry such as the Tin Woodman, Williams Jennings Bryan symbolized by the Cowardly Loin and Emerald City as Washington, among other forms of symbolism. Creating connections between the Wizard of Oz and the populism movement in your history assignment can significantly provide a good paper depicting your deep understanding of American history.