This paper problematizes school roots of Physical Education contrasting two important historical events in education: educational reform in Minas Gerais in 1906 and the new legal regulations in Brasil. Deriving its procedures from cultural history of education, it shows that Physical Education in the beginning of the 20th century was at first represented as a means of regenerating the race and preparing for work, cooperating, thus, on the republican social project. At the end of the century, new views on education and society challenge the continuance of Physical Education in school practices. This paper suggests that it is responsible for developing body movement culture.