Thomas Wood Childhood

Historical Figure Research Paper

Thomas Wood is known for his contribution in the development of the new physical education program. The development of the new physical education helped spread the life of physical education to individuals. “As a result, the physical education became embraced in most schools and colleges.” (Shimon,1) The philosophy of Thomas Wood was based on a natural education and child centered approach; this was highly influenced by the attitude of social reforms of the time. Education was viewed as a crucial way of allowing students to play and participate in games and sports in order to attain positive social goals. Thomas Wood led to the integration of physical education in schools. The focus also increased development of the physical education since more time became devoted to physical education. Thomas Wood contributed a lot to the physical education. Thomas Wood attended Obrlin College, he served as the first director in physical education department at the University of Stanford. Later, Thomas Wood became associated with Columbia University. He

Throughout the early twentieth century and into the 1950s, there was a growth of physical education in the public schools. During the early 1920s many states passed legislation requiring physical education in schools. However there were shifts in curricular emphasis were evident when wars occurred and when the results of national reports were published. “For example, as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States' entrance into World War II, the emphasis in physical education shifted from games and sport to physical conditioning.” (Boyce, 1) Similar curricular shifts were noted in 1953 when the Kraus-Weber study found that American children were far less fit than their European counterparts. This was all thanks to Thomas and the innovations that he