Dr. Szabó Lajos: A magyar ifjúság testi nevelésének története (A Sportmúzeum Kincsei 5. Budapest, 2004)

Az 1945 utáni politikai változások következményei a testnevelésben

AFTER 1945 THE MAIN AIM WAS to rebuild war damages. Structural changes started only in 1948. The old school-system, still working on the principles of Ratio Eóucationis (1777), was replaced by the Soviet-type eight class primary school system. In spite of the protests of the Church, the nationalization of schools was accepted by the Hungarian Parliament (Act 23.1948). There was an uncertainly among specialists as far as physical education was concerned. During the interwar period several modern elements were introduced, but the political mentality of the Horthy-era left its mark on it (revision of Trianon peace-treaty). As an effect of it the number of physical education lessons were decreased to 2 lessons/week and was called gymnastics, again. There was a big debate among specialists which were the "militarist elements" of PE., to omit them from the new "socialist" syllabus. Beside the two lessons/week there was one game-afternoon introduced. So Endre Kerezsi and his colleagues, when preparing the new syllabus, kept the idea of ancient Greek education "kalokagathia" in view. The well-prepared exercises were supplemented with political guidelines for the teachers. From 1950 the two lessons/week was completed with 2 extra (afternoon) lessons in the higher classes. But there were not enough gym-halls, equipments and qualified teachers mainly in the countryside. Specialists expected a great leap forward from the activity of the Democratic Youth Association (DISZ), founded in June 1950, as their presence in the schools were destined to promote "movement-life" in the in the schools.