Kinesiology Education – a Challenge for Modern Theory and Practice in Education

Life and work in a modern society carries a “specific weight” when referring to children, pupils and youth. That is, among other, the reason why various influences from the surroundings to which the youngest and youth are exposed to are reflected restrictively not only on their growth and development but their overall wellbeing. The kinesiological ideal of man presupposes good health, harmonious development and maintenance of man’s characteristics and abilities, and improvement of knowledge necessary for an efficient life and work in the contemporary society. The task and abilities of the physical and health education area and kinesiology education is to meet the authentic needs of children, pupils and youth. The notion of Kinesiology education represents a fusion of science, professionals and the profession. The change of subject name from Physical and Health Education to Kinesiology Education is by no means a formality but a question of essence. The suggested change of subject name is a result of achievements of kinesiology in terms of knowledge and theory as a substrata science, kinesiology education as its applied area and kinesiology teaching methodology as an applied scientific discipline. What emerges is a need for developing a subject curriculum which would take into consideration the needs of children, pupils and youth. Furthermore, the conclusion that the fundamental task of each subject, and in that respect the professional teaching it – kinesiologist, is to leave a “trace”. Such a “trace” will emerge only if each participant in the teaching process is provided with the best educational opportunity. From a kinesiology point of view the best educational opportunity is the one which takes into consideration the present state of the anthropological student status, its authentic needs, possibilities and interests and, the present state of the student’s health. Croatian Journal of Education Vol.16, No.3/2014, pages: 623-641 Review paper Paper submitted: 2 April 2014 Paper accepted: 9 June 2014 Findak: Kinesiology Education – a Challenge for Modern Theory and Practice in Education 624 At the same time, that represents one of the basic conditions not only for realizing the tasks and aims of the subject, kinesiology education, but its contribution to achieving the aims and tasks of the school, i.e. the entire educational system. Accordingly, it is expected that professionals, regardless of the science or profession coming from, and others who directly or indirectly contribute to the efficient solving of challenges of kinesiology education for contemporary theory and practice of education to become involved in its realization so that their comparative advantages would be used in the best manner for the good of children, students and youth, and respectively for the enhancement of the theory and practice of education.