Physical Education in Maria Weryho-Radziwiłłowiczowa Pedagogy Early days of Gimnastics in Polish Preschools

Abstract

Objectives The paper presents one of the first conceptions of physical education for pre-schools. It was worked out by a pioneer of preschool education in Poland - Maria Weryho-Radziwiłłowiczowa. She started her work on the physical education methodology at the turn of the XIX-th century and continued this work over the whole inter-war period. Therefore, presentation of evolution of the physical education methodology developed by M. Weryho-Radziwiłowiczowa is the aim of the paper. Based on the first, simple solutions given by Fryderyka Wilhelma Froebl which dominated the workings of Polish preschool education institutions until the twenties of the XX-th century as well as on the physical education theory of Piotr Lesgaft, M. Weryho brought about come into being a methodology which physical education made a basis of health education. Fundamental assumptions of her gymnastics methodology in preschools have been corrected and improved in insignificant extent until then. Material and methods critical analysis of the references Results Analysis of the original works of Maria Weryho-Radziwiłłowiczowa and her papers in the field of the physical and health education from years 1925-1939 published in edited by herself journal “Wychowanie Przedszkolne". Conclusions Research and practical activities of Maria Weryho-Radziwiłłowiczowa have given rise to development of Polish methodology of physical education in preschools. This methodology has become a basis of a broadly understood health education. Nowadays we all are aware that the main goal of the physical education in the framework of preschool education is a fitness development as a one of the good health factor.

Keywords

• health education
• physical education
• : Maria Weryho- Radziwiłłowicz
• preschool pedagogy
• gymnastics metodology