The history of physical education at school

From compulsory gymnastics in 1880 to the fields of learning: the key stages of physical education in French schools.

The outline, topic by topic

Each topic is weighted the way the exam weighs it.

George law: what is it?
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The law of 27 January 1880 making gymnastics compulsory in boys' schools.
After the 1870 defeat, school had to prepare soldiers' bodies.
PE in French schools: which step comes after "Compulsory gymnastics (1880)"?
- School battalions (1882)
- Sport favoured by the instructions (1967)
- UNSS founded (1975)
- Transfer to the Ministry of Education (1981)
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School battalions (1882)
From hygiene and national defence to sport, then to a full school subject.
School battalions: what is it?
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Units of schoolchildren doing military drill, created in 1882 and dropped in the 1890s.
They show the link between gymnastics and national revenge.
It is 1880, shortly after the defeat by Prussia. Why does school impose gymnastics?
- To train Olympic champions
- To prepare future soldiers physically
- To replace break times
- To copy the English public schools
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To prepare future soldiers physically
National revenge drove the George law and the school battalions.