It may be meaningful to presumably think of what Jean-Jacques Rousseau would have done to see the current situation of education, particularly that of school education in Korea, should he be reborn nowaday. This is so because what was bitterly lamente...
It may be meaningful to presumably think of what Jean-Jacques Rousseau would have done to see the current situation of education, particularly that of school education in Korea, should he be reborn nowaday. This is so because what was bitterly lamented as unreasonable aspect of education by Rousseau in his「Emil」240 years ago has become a common practice in the educational field of Korea these days. People used to desperately pursue something that is far from real education, claiming it to be 'virtual' education.
Although Rousseau's educational idea was rather inclined to represent his personal dogma that overrode the stream of history and social reality, it is needless to say a revolutionary achievement in the pedagogic history that he succeeded in shifting the focus of adult education to the natural process of development in the education for children, and that he placed high value on emotion and will in the age when intellectualism ruled by emphasizing physical as well as sensory training as the ground for development of reason. He claimed that holistic, instead of intellectual, education should be given to children before they started to develop reason, in order to help them develop healthy body to overcome any hardship or difficulties they might face in the course of their life and preserve their good natural characters, which might be basis for later development of their intellect, sense of cooperation and other sensory organs.
Rousseau's naturalistic idea of physical education as outlined above is thought to have exercised no less impact on the objectives of education for physical, emotional and intellectual development as well as development of social characters up to this time.
The outcomes of the present study could be summed up as follows:
First, it is regretful to point out that the present day education takes the abnormal course in which moral and physical education is neglected but much attention is paid to intellect-oriented education in radical way, ignoring the primary aim of education. In sports sector, for instance, athletes are trained solely for the purpose of gaining victories in games, being forced to select either study at class or practical exercise only. Under the circumstances where professionalism and radicalism prevail, no substantial education can be performed at school perverting the real pursuit of physical education, it may be said.
At this point, school physical education is recommended not to be bent on bringing up athletes only but to regard physical education as an extremely important area for holistic education in which natural and voluntary or unforced physical activities may be ensured.
Second, Rousseau stressed the needs for fitness based on healthy body and desirable habit, declaring that fragile health unable to persist sufferings in life may fail to maintain mental health and to cultivate a good personality. According to him, healthy body must therefore be regarded as the prerequisite for happy life and it must be acquired by fitness through various forms of experiences.
It may be true to say that the physique of the youth today has improved drastically thanks mainly to over-protectiveness by their parents who have driven them to give themselves up entirely to intellectual growth and safety but their mentality and endurance have been weakened down gradually. In this respect, it seems badly required to promote life-long physical education that is aimed at preventing aging and accentuating health and hobby in life by connecting the physical education at school with that of community under the assumption that physical education be a part of life-long education.
Third, the function-oriented sports derived from overt absorption in victory has given frequent rise to mishaps like hooliganism at sports venues. Such accidents are usually caused by lack of objectives in physical education. Judging from the fact that physical education is an excellent means toward forming perfect personality and healthy body can serve as a fundament for it, the present-day leaders of physical education should become cool-headed enough to seriously concern their reality and again be reminded of the significance of Rousseau's argument even 240 years after he stressed the needs of physical education claiming that synchronized development of mind and body is the basis for formation of personality and it can be acquired only by physical education.
Fourth, physical education is a most important sector of education, having been negligent in the meantime, though. It not only builds up healthy and magnificent body but, more importantly, is essential to the development of character. The mere fact that all children like to play sports is a good evidence that physical education is very beneficial to physical development as well as mental health of human being. For the essential function of sports is not simply to build up good physique and to prompt agility but is to help children develop such desirable qualities as sense of discipline, equality, fellowship, cooperation, etc.
In sum, Rousseau puts importance of physical education first and foremost, and sees it not simply from the view of ostensible movement but rather highlights the practical aspect it may contribute to training of character and harmonious progress of body and mind.