| In most educational systems, physical | | | | In France, physical education is required |
| education (PE), also called physical training | | | | from age 6 to age 16 (mandatory schooling |
| (PT) or gym in less progressive settings, is | | | | period). It is actually taught by specialized |
| a course in the curriculum which utilizes | | | | state teachers to all secondary school |
| learning in the cognitive, affective and | | | | students, mostly in coeducational classes : 4 |
| psycho motor domains in a play or movement | | | | hours/week at age 11, 3 hours/week from age |
| exploration setting. In the United States, it | | | | 12 to 15 and 2 hours/week from age 16 to 18. |
| is almost always mandatory for students in | | | | National programs and contents refer to the |
| elementary schools, and often for students in | | | | contemporary physical culture: sports, dance |
| middle schools and high schools. | | | | and circus. |
| | | | |
| The primary aim of physical education is to | | | | In the United Kingdom, sports like netball, |
| equip students with the knowledge, skills, | | | | cricket and rugby are also played. |
| capacities, and values along with the | | | | |
| enthusiasm to maintain a healthy lifestyle | | | | In Romania and Moldova, oina (which is |
| into adulthood. Some schools also require | | | | similar to baseball), rugby, basketball and |
| physical education as a way to promote weight | | | | soccer are popular sports played in PE |
| loss in students. Activities included in the | | | | classes. |
| program are designed to promote physical | | | | |
| fitness, to develop motor skills, to instill | | | | In New Zealand and Australia, softball, |
| knowledge and understanding of rules, | | | | cricket, Australian rules football and |
| concepts, and strategies, and to teach | | | | sometimes rugby are played. |
| students to work as part of a team, or as | | | | |
| individuals, in a wide variety of competitive | | | | In Japan, physical education is more like |
| activities. | | | | what are known as health classes in the |
| | | | United States, although some Japanese high |
| In all states in the United States, physical | | | | schools, especially in Hokkaido, have the |
| education is offered to students from grades | | | | more common version. |
| K to 12. However, Illinois is the only state | | | | |
| that requires physical education in all | | | | In Sweden, sports like floorball and |
| schools (even private schools) for all grade | | | | brannboll are played, along with |
| levels. Mandatory physical education is up to | | | | internationally known sports such as soccer, |
| each individual State and school district. | | | | basketball and volleyball. |
| Most States do require physical education | | | | |
| 6th-9th grade and offer "elective" physical | | | | In Spain, sports like soccer, basketball, |
| education classes 10th-12th grades. Many | | | | handball and volleyball are played from |
| school districts, especially those with | | | | primary education to bachillerato. |
| limited budgets, cut back or eliminate on | | | | |
| physical education from the curriculum. About | | | | There is some disagreement about required PE |
| two dozen states required physical education | | | | classes, especially in the upper grades and |
| in secondary schools in 2001, that number has | | | | at the college level. Physical Education is |
| since gone down. | | | | promoted as a way to teach students about |
| | | | teamwork and sports, but also is a means to |
| In Canada, physical education is required up | | | | develop and maintian physical fitness. The |
| to grade 10, although some provinces are | | | | latter goal requires regular activity. PE |
| considering extending this to grade 12. In | | | | grading scales should be based on more than |
| the United States, individual states | | | | just athletic ability so that students who do |
| determine the requirement for physical | | | | not excel in sports have an opportunity to |
| education in their schools; requirements in | | | | receive respectable grades, as these grades |
| middle schools and high schools vary widely | | | | may be included in their GPA (which colleges |
| from state to state. | | | | look at when considering students for |
| | | | admission). |