The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-23
PHYSICAL EXERCISES IN EDUcATIoN.

lhe principal cause of the defect in the
bodily condition of the people is to be at
tributed to the manner in which they are
nurtured. No means are employed to train
children to feats Of agility and strength
In the schools Of the higher classes, the
scholars enjoy the benefits and pleasures of
physical exercises; but our national schools
have yet to look forward for that boon.
The strength and powers of endurance Of
the people, some centuries back, must be
attributed, in a great measure. to their early
training. Their early years were devoted to
athletic sports, and feats of arms, so rs TO be
foremost in the chase, and victorious i'll the
tournament.
The result of such training is seen in the
records of their prowess. If physical train
ing developed such vigor III those lays, Why
is not similar practice adopted now to Sc.
cure such desirable results Surely, the
different calfngs Of labor require as much
agility and strength as the art of couchng
the lance, and the management of the war
horse.
Every school ought to have some sort Of
gymnasium attached to it where the chill
drcn's muscles, &C., may be gradually de-
vclopcd, and their several members i'm
proved. When child arrives at the age
of four or five, it is sent to school, where it
is confined, for tho chief part of the day, in
an atmosphere Which tends to check the
bodily growth. This continues for several
years, during which the mental faculties
are continually employed. If the body be
not duly exercised along with the mind, the
latter, receiving moro than its natural share
Of nourishment, causes a loss of vigor in
the former. In the commercial world, sup
ply depends upon demand; SO with the
different members and parts of the human
body. The supply Of nourishment to any
particular part of mans frame depends up
OH the demand there, which demand is
regulated in proportion as that part is call
ed into action. Therefore, if any member
remains dormant for want of suitable exer-
else, its undevelopcment causes it to lose its
natural strength.
Children, after being confined in school
throughout the day, require something to
call into action every muscle of the
body. Their health depends upon it. Tho
majority, if not all of our national schools,
however, are only provided with small
playground, where the amusements are
confined to shooting marbles, &c. Such a
provision alone will not satisfy the childrcn's
natural wants, and consequently they grow
up, in nu'nberless cases, puny and weak, to
lind, perhaps, premature grave. No
doubt, many persons think that working
mems children have sufficient call for bodi-
ly development at home. In some meas
ure, this is true as regards rural districts,
but not towns. In the former places, tho
poor mans child has plenty to do from
sunrise to sunset. But do the children be-
como vigorous and welIdeveloped men o.
Let any ono take survey of our rural popu-
lation, and then make answer The majorfi.
ty Of them seem as unwieldly as polar
bear; some carrying their heads foot in
advance of their bodies; others with mis-.
shapen legs; and nearly all possessing the
most awkward gait. The towns are far
worse oft than country districts for the
means of athletic exercises. Crowded thor
oughfares and dark alleys form their gym
nasium; and the youths wan looks show
clearly the benefits derived.
So many young men have been returned,
rs unfit for military service in France, on
account Of some physical deformity, that
tho attention Of the government has been
drawn to it, and means have been taken to
remedy the evil. In this country, the same
glaring fact has hitherto remained officially
unnoticed, though it is sufficiently noto.i-
Gus. While the cry is now for education,
let its promoters, as we'll as tho teachers
themselves, remember that it is rs mucl,
their duty to cndeavor to develop the physi-
cal powers of children as the mental ones,
SO that in mind and body they may be fitted
to meet the storm of life. To do this, the
proper means must be connected with every
school.
MI. Horace Mann, speaking Of the pu
pills ofythe Royal Orphan IIousaSf Pots
dam; says: "As the boys are destined for
the army, it is thought important to give
them agility and vigor. Iis not get dis.
covered that activity and energy are neees.
sarysita any occupation save that of killing
our telloso men. The boys practice gymnas.
tic exercises, such rs climbing poles, ascen.
ding ropes, flinging their bodies round and
round over bar while they hang on only
by the bend Of the legs at the knee,joints,
vaul.ing upon the wooden horse, &c. DC,
until their physical feats reach point Of
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