Historical review of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department at Tennessee State University
Abstract
History has come to mean studying the events and actions relating to persons as social beings as they live, work, and play. It is impossible to picture an occurrence exactly as it happened, however, it is important to understand the context in which the event took place. Each historical interval referencing physical education offers a unique set of events in relation to the time, the scientific understanding, and the predominant values of society. Within the focus of history, the growth and development of Tennessee State University and its Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation blend into the theme of time, as the past significantly impacts the present and the future of HPER and TSU. This investigation was a historical account of the growth and development related to the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Tennessee State University. Though the university was founded in 1912, at no time during its 88-year history was there an accumulated account of the HPER department. Without benefit of historical tracking, difficulty arises in terms of accounting for departmental success or failure. As evidenced by the provided data, changes within the programmatic direction of the department have been small and at times stagnating. As presented in the review of literature, changes within the discipline have moved rapidly. Unfortunately, the same can not be said about the HPER department. After accumulating data relevant to the growth and development of the HPER department, several issues became apparent in terms of future study: (1) Compare other historically black institutions and their HPER Departments to TSU. (2) Track the social changes surrounding black physical educators and their acceptance in the discipline. (3) Study the impact of coaches as teachers on split contract. (4) Investigate the advisement system. (5) Investigate the reasons graduation rates remain low. (6) Develop a marketing plan for the department. (7) Develop schemata for departmental accountability. (8) Investigate students in terms of desire, or lack, thereof, to enter the field of health and physical education.
Subject Area
Physical education|Education history|Higher education|Continuing education
Recommended Citation
Jesse Charles James,
"Historical review of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department at Tennessee State University"
(2000).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI3007609.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI3007609