FTCE Physical Education K–12
21-K EP · ECTF
FTCE
PE K-12 Florida Teacher Certification Examinations
FLORIDA DOE Q U A L I T Y E D U C AT O R S F O R F L O R I D A' S S T U D E N T S
FTCE Physical Education K-12
CO M P L E T E Q U E ST I O N S & V E R I F I E D A N S W E RS | P E K– 1 2 T E AC H E R C E RT I F I C AT I O N
EXAM
INSTITUTION FTCE / Florida Department of EXAM CODE FTCE Physical Education K–12
Education
PROGRAM Teacher Certification — Physical ACADEMIC YEAR
Education
EXAM TITLE FTCE Physical Education K-12 | TOTAL QUESTIONS 135 Questions
Complete Questions & Verified
Answers
COURSE TITLE Physical Education K–12 FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Certification Preparation Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover history/philosophy, curriculum, instruction, motor development, biomechanics, fitness,
assessment, sport skills/rules, and professional knowledge.
▸ Correct answers and detailed teaching rationales appear below each question.
▸ All content aligned with FTCE Physical Education K–12 competencies and Florida state standards.
, SECTION I — FTCE PHYSICAL EDUCATION K–12
Questions 1 – 135
CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION
1. Which of the following countries did not greatly influence the early development of
physical education in the United States?
A. Germany
B. England
C. Norway
D. Sweden
CORRECT ANSWER C — Norway
RATIONALE Germany (Turnverein gymnastics system), Sweden (Ling's medical gymnastics
emphasizing precise movement), and England (sports and games tradition)
were the three major European influences on the development of American
physical education. Norway did not have a comparable influence. The German
system emphasized apparatus work, the Swedish system focused on corrective
exercise, and the English model contributed the sport-based approach that
eventually dominated American PE.
2. What was the first state in the U.S. to require physical education in its public schools?
A. Florida
B. Massachusetts
C. New York
D. California
CORRECT ANSWER D — California
RATIONALE California was the first state to mandate physical education in public schools,
passing legislation in 1866. This pioneering action set a precedent that other
states would follow, particularly after national fitness concerns emerged from
military testing results. Massachusetts, while home to the first private school
requiring PE (Round Hill School, 1823), was not the first state with a public
school mandate.
,3. President Eisenhower was alerted to the poor fitness levels of American youths. How was
the poor physical conditioning of youths discovered in the Eisenhower Administration?
A. By WWII Selective Service Examination
B. By organizations promoting physical fitness
C. By the Federal Security Agency
D. By the Kraus-Webber Tests
CORRECT ANSWER D — By the Kraus-Webber Tests
RATIONALE The Kraus-Webber tests in the 1950s revealed that nearly 58% of American
children failed minimum fitness standards compared to only 8% of European
children. These alarming results were presented to President Eisenhower, who
responded by establishing the President's Council on Youth Fitness in 1956 (later
renamed the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport). This event
marked a watershed moment in American physical education history, shifting
national focus toward youth fitness.
4. The Round Hill School (a private school) in Massachusetts was the first school to require
physical education in its curriculum. What year was this?
A. 1792
B. 1823
C. 1902
D. 1806
CORRECT ANSWER B — 1823
RATIONALE Round Hill School in Northampton, Massachusetts, established in 1823, was the
first American school to require physical education as part of its regular
curriculum. The school employed German instructor Charles Beck, who
introduced the German Turnverein gymnastics system. This marked the formal
introduction of organized physical education in American educational
institutions, predating public school mandates by several decades.
, 5. The educational philosophy that believes experience is the best teacher is ______.
A. Naturalism
B. Pragmatism
C. Idealism
D. Existentialism
CORRECT ANSWER B — Pragmatism
RATIONALE Pragmatism, championed by John Dewey, holds that knowledge is acquired
through experience and action — "learning by doing" — rather than abstract
contemplation. In physical education, this translates to hands-on movement
experiences, problem-solving through activity, and learning that connects to
real-life applications. Naturalism emphasizes nature's influence, idealism
focuses on knowledge acquisition, and existentialism prioritizes individual
choice.
6. Idealism believes in ______.
A. The laws of nature
B. Experience is the key
C. Practice, practice, practice
D. The mind is developed through acquisition of knowledge
CORRECT ANSWER D — The mind is developed through acquisition of knowledge
RATIONALE Idealism in education emphasizes that the mind is developed through the
acquisition of knowledge and ideas. Truth and values exist independently of the
learner, and education should transmit this established knowledge. In PE, an
idealist approach might emphasize learning rules, strategies, and traditional
sport forms. This contrasts with pragmatism (learning through experience),
naturalism (following nature's laws), and existentialism (individual meaning-
making).
21-K EP · ECTF
FTCE
PE K-12 Florida Teacher Certification Examinations
FLORIDA DOE Q U A L I T Y E D U C AT O R S F O R F L O R I D A' S S T U D E N T S
FTCE Physical Education K-12
CO M P L E T E Q U E ST I O N S & V E R I F I E D A N S W E RS | P E K– 1 2 T E AC H E R C E RT I F I C AT I O N
EXAM
INSTITUTION FTCE / Florida Department of EXAM CODE FTCE Physical Education K–12
Education
PROGRAM Teacher Certification — Physical ACADEMIC YEAR
Education
EXAM TITLE FTCE Physical Education K-12 | TOTAL QUESTIONS 135 Questions
Complete Questions & Verified
Answers
COURSE TITLE Physical Education K–12 FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Certification Preparation Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover history/philosophy, curriculum, instruction, motor development, biomechanics, fitness,
assessment, sport skills/rules, and professional knowledge.
▸ Correct answers and detailed teaching rationales appear below each question.
▸ All content aligned with FTCE Physical Education K–12 competencies and Florida state standards.
, SECTION I — FTCE PHYSICAL EDUCATION K–12
Questions 1 – 135
CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION
1. Which of the following countries did not greatly influence the early development of
physical education in the United States?
A. Germany
B. England
C. Norway
D. Sweden
CORRECT ANSWER C — Norway
RATIONALE Germany (Turnverein gymnastics system), Sweden (Ling's medical gymnastics
emphasizing precise movement), and England (sports and games tradition)
were the three major European influences on the development of American
physical education. Norway did not have a comparable influence. The German
system emphasized apparatus work, the Swedish system focused on corrective
exercise, and the English model contributed the sport-based approach that
eventually dominated American PE.
2. What was the first state in the U.S. to require physical education in its public schools?
A. Florida
B. Massachusetts
C. New York
D. California
CORRECT ANSWER D — California
RATIONALE California was the first state to mandate physical education in public schools,
passing legislation in 1866. This pioneering action set a precedent that other
states would follow, particularly after national fitness concerns emerged from
military testing results. Massachusetts, while home to the first private school
requiring PE (Round Hill School, 1823), was not the first state with a public
school mandate.
,3. President Eisenhower was alerted to the poor fitness levels of American youths. How was
the poor physical conditioning of youths discovered in the Eisenhower Administration?
A. By WWII Selective Service Examination
B. By organizations promoting physical fitness
C. By the Federal Security Agency
D. By the Kraus-Webber Tests
CORRECT ANSWER D — By the Kraus-Webber Tests
RATIONALE The Kraus-Webber tests in the 1950s revealed that nearly 58% of American
children failed minimum fitness standards compared to only 8% of European
children. These alarming results were presented to President Eisenhower, who
responded by establishing the President's Council on Youth Fitness in 1956 (later
renamed the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport). This event
marked a watershed moment in American physical education history, shifting
national focus toward youth fitness.
4. The Round Hill School (a private school) in Massachusetts was the first school to require
physical education in its curriculum. What year was this?
A. 1792
B. 1823
C. 1902
D. 1806
CORRECT ANSWER B — 1823
RATIONALE Round Hill School in Northampton, Massachusetts, established in 1823, was the
first American school to require physical education as part of its regular
curriculum. The school employed German instructor Charles Beck, who
introduced the German Turnverein gymnastics system. This marked the formal
introduction of organized physical education in American educational
institutions, predating public school mandates by several decades.
, 5. The educational philosophy that believes experience is the best teacher is ______.
A. Naturalism
B. Pragmatism
C. Idealism
D. Existentialism
CORRECT ANSWER B — Pragmatism
RATIONALE Pragmatism, championed by John Dewey, holds that knowledge is acquired
through experience and action — "learning by doing" — rather than abstract
contemplation. In physical education, this translates to hands-on movement
experiences, problem-solving through activity, and learning that connects to
real-life applications. Naturalism emphasizes nature's influence, idealism
focuses on knowledge acquisition, and existentialism prioritizes individual
choice.
6. Idealism believes in ______.
A. The laws of nature
B. Experience is the key
C. Practice, practice, practice
D. The mind is developed through acquisition of knowledge
CORRECT ANSWER D — The mind is developed through acquisition of knowledge
RATIONALE Idealism in education emphasizes that the mind is developed through the
acquisition of knowledge and ideas. Truth and values exist independently of the
learner, and education should transmit this established knowledge. In PE, an
idealist approach might emphasize learning rules, strategies, and traditional
sport forms. This contrasts with pragmatism (learning through experience),
naturalism (following nature's laws), and existentialism (individual meaning-
making).
