Internationally known educator addresses attitudes about sports during seminar at Tusculum College

Conflicting views derived from two classical cultures blend in modern society to create ambivalence about the role of physical education and activity in education, according to an internationally known authority on sports philosophy who spoke at Tusculum College on Monday, Oct. 7.

Dr. Steven Estes, author and educator in various areas of sport and physical activity, said his research has led him to conclude that a conflict in views between the ancient Greeks and the Europeans of the Dark Ages created two lines of thought about the importance of physical education and activity. Both these traditions feed modern society's thinking about the place of athletics in education, he said.

One result of this ambivalence is the fact that physical education is being limited in many schools at the same time the number of Americans who are obese is increasing, said Dr. Estes, who is chairman of the School of Health and Human Performance at East Carolina University.

"Why?" he asked. "In writing my book, I tried to understand why physical education is not real popular. Why did I not want to tell my parents I was going into physical education? Why do you take tennis as a course and get one credit while you take a history course and get three credits, when you may devote the same amount of time to both?"

Dr. Estes's research led him to conclude that a division in Western thought has shaped a mixed and sometimes shifting societal attitude toward sports and physical education.

Western thought has tended to differentiate between the physical on the one hand, and the intangible on the other. The latter category includes such entities as ideas and emotions. The perceived importance of these individual categories has comparitively varied in different periods of history, Dr. Estes said.

By studying the humanities, Dr. Estes discovered what he believes is the basis of current attitudes toward sports. Greek philosopher Plato espoused the idea that an individual needed to develop both his physical and intellectual capabilities to the fullest extent, with the development of the physical body as a means to build good character.

While the Romans placed a similar importance on physical development, the focus of Europeans during the Dark and Middle Ages was on the development of the soul, with physical development relegated to primarily the training of soldiers, he said. The Greek and Roman ideals were rediscovered during the Renaissance, and modern attitudes have evolved from the two opposing views.

Plato's writings form the basis of the "sports build character" idea, which has been used as one of the primary justification for athletic programs in schools, Dr. Estes said.

"However, one of the problems of modern sports is the prevalence of the idea that 'winning is the only thing,'" he said. "The pressure to win and some of the resulting behavior undermines the argument that sports shapes the soul."

In the correct atmosphere, sports can build good qualities such as honesty and the ability to work with others, Dr. Estes said. Physical education and sports are also important in helping people lead healthier lifestyles and learn new skills, he said, and also provide personal enjoyment.

The definition of sport in modern society is also interesting in that it has become so structured, Dr. Estes said. The modern perception is that an activity must have written rules, a national competition of some type, related organizations, maintained statistics and records, and publicity through the media.

Dr. Estes also shared his career path that began with unsuccessful attempts in college to major in pre-medicine, and then, business; a stint as an Olympic and international competitor in rowing; and afterwards, a decision to enter the physical education profession, which combined his interest in sports with a discovered love of teaching.

The matter of rules was the focus of Dr. Espinosa, who discussed recent standards that have been set for physical education. Dr. Espinosa served as the director of National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) at the College of Charleston and is a current Board of Examiner Member of NCATE.

Dr. Espinosa, a professor in the same academic school at ECU as Dr. Estes, also advised the students to begin to plan their career paths. "What an honor for us to be asked to speak to your classes, but it is an also an opportunity for you as students to hear from people like us, who have been where you are - 'who have there and done that."

Dr. Espinosa is known for her research in the historical Texas "no pass, no pay" act, which requires student athletes to perform adequately in academics.

The visit of the two speakers came about because of an invitational letter Dr. Estes recently received from Tusculum College students in PHED 200 (Introduction and History of Physical Education and Sports). He noted that he receives many invitations, but the Tusculum letter was different from most. "By far, it was the nicest request I have received from any class," he said.

Students in the Physical Education class, taught by Dr. Karyn Spencer, had written the letter to Dr. Estes, the author of the textbook used for the course. But, the letter also included the caveat that the class could not offer him any pay or cover his expenses.

Thus, Dr. Spencer was surprised when she received a call from Dr. Estes, saying he would be happy to speak to the class and that Dr. Espinosa could come as well. Plans were made quickly for the two speakers' visit, including arrangements for the speakers to stay at professors' homes.

Several classes were invited to the seminar, which addressed topics covered in Estes' book, "A History and Philosophy of Sport and Physical Education," as well as national standards for sports and physical education.