Figure 1.-- We note a physical education lesson in Örebro (200 km from Stockholm) in 1916. Until after World war I we note that PE was often exercises and drill. This seems to be the case in Örebro. The children involved seem to be primary school children, but they sedem to have a very substantial school. The boys have not changed into a gym uniform, but wear their regulsr school clothes.

Gym or Physical Education (PE) was part of the school program. We do not have any information about gym classes in Sweden. We do have several images which tells us about the program and the gym uniforms worn. We note a physical education lesson in Örebro (200 km from Stockholm) in 1916. Until after World war I we note that PE was often exercises and drill. This seems to be the case in Örebro (figure 1). The children involved seem to be primary school children, but they sedem to have a very substantial school. The boys have not changed into a gym uniform, but wear their regular school clothes. We note after World War II that the choldren are wearing gym suits, but these are secondary schools. Another photograph from Örebro after World War II shows a gym class in 1954. The boys are learning about track events. They are wearing gym uniforms of short pants and an optional singlet. The boys are also barefoot. Another gym class at about the same shows boys wearing romper shorts or bloomer pants. This gym class was at the Gymnaestraden Rotterdam and was taken in 1953. The boys do not wear shirts and are also barefoot.

Historical Background

The idea of phsical fitness seems to have attracted some interest in Sweden during the 18th century. One of the first real athletic activities in Swedish schools and universities was fencing. Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839) played a major role in introducing an organized gymastics program to Swedish schools. Ling was appointed fencing master at Lund University (1805). A decade later Ling help found the Central Gymnastic Institute (1813). The Institute played a major role in introducing gymnastics to Sweden's developing scgool system. Ling's essential idea was that the selection and type of exercises should be based on the actual requirements of the body. Ling saw that implements or exercise devices could be helpful. His one basic book is a classic in the development of gymastics and phsicl education. [Ling] Ling's sussessor, Gabriel Brating (1799-1881) ans son, Hjalmar Ling (1820-86), continued his work. They lectured at the Institute promoting Ling's ideas in the Sewdish educational and medical establishment. Hjalmar Link became a respected expert in the field of medical gymnastics, but concetrated his efforts in school gymnastics. [Sundbärg]

School Program

Gym or Physical Education (PE) was part of the school program. We do not have much information about gym classes in Sweden. It does appear that Sweden was a European leader in adding phsicalfitness/gymastics to the school program which in the 19th century was very academic in nature. Thus we see a rigorous gymnastics/physical education intriduced in Swedish schools during the 19th century. We do have several images which tells us about the program and the gym uniforms worn. We note a physical education lesson in Örebro (200 km from Stockholm) in 1916. Until after World war I we note that PE was often exercises and drill. This seems to be the case in Örebro (figure 1). The children involved seem to be primary school children, but they sedem to have a very substantial school.

Chronology

Swedish gymnasiums seem to have evolved from the rooms used for fencing training. We have little information on the early- and mid-19th century. With the development of photography we have some views of the early gymnasiums. We see Swedish scondary schools with well-equipped gymnasiums as early as the late 19th century. We do not know how common this was, but see no reason to believe that most secondary schools did not have gyms. We doubt is primary schools had gyms at the time. This probably did not become common until after World war II.

Gym Uniforms

Swedish boys in the late 19th century and early 20th century do not seem to have worn gym uniforms. The primary boys here (figure 1), have not changed into a gym uniform, but wear their regular school clothes. Thus gym glassess seem rather formal. We are not sure just when gym uniforms were introduced. We note after World War II that the choldren are wearing gym suits, but these are secondary schools. Another photograph from Örebro after World War II shows a gym class in 1954. The boys are learning about track events. They are wearing gym uniforms of short pants and an optional singlet. The boys are also barefoot. Another gym class at about the same shows boys wearing romper shorts or bloomer pants. This gym class was at the Gymnaestraden Rotterdam and was taken in 1953. The boys do not wear shirts and are also barefoot. We do not know how common these romper pants were.

Sources

Ling, Per Henrik. Principles of Gymnastics.

Sundbärg, Axel Gustav. Sweden: Its People and Its Industry (Hedwig Biörklund: 1904).

Created: 9:20 PM 10/30/2005
Last updated: 5:35 PM 1/5/2009