Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-12

SCHOOL GYMNAsTICs.-E Fu6ac
Ledger In your issue of the 7th notice
was called to the report that three acct
dents had occurred on fernando street
in one week, resulting from the gymnas-
tic exercises as practiced there. You
also state that "the accounts that reach
us from time to time, of boys being in
iured, leads to the inference that the
gymnastic exercises are managed I'M a
very loose and reckless manner" One
statement is, that James Leslie fell and
badly injured his leg" The facts, so far
as can learn, are that the above named
boy was not exercising in the gymna-
stun, but engaged in play, the nature of
which the regular exersise is intended to
change. Again it is stated that "a boy
named Rutlege broke his arm" That
was true, but he was not at school nor on
the school play ground that day. Again,
the statement that Charles Renner was
badly hurt during the exercise" is also
untrue. He was hurt in the morning be-
fore school, and the regular exercise is
never required until evening. So much
for the condition of things on fernando
street. 1t is a very fair inference to
state that had the boys named really
been practicing they would not have been
hurt In regard to the accounts that
reach you from time to time of accidents,
/ can say that but two accidents have &C.
Cured resulting from the gymnastic ex-
ercises since their Introduction, while
many hare occurred resulting from pro-
miscuous exercise and sport, as usually
participated in by pupils during recess
Could each teacher during recess be on
the play ground, and see that each scholar
did participate in some systematic exer-
else instead of grouping together, often
for purposes net good in their tendencies,
it would no doubt prevent most of the
accidents that do occur, and prevent
much of the disorder in their schools
Every experienced teacher knows that
more immortality is INDUCED in during
recess than the good influence of the
school-room can overcome. This, it was
hoped, the regular exercise would, ia a
degree, correct. Many parents dread
the associations of the recreation hour,
but if that hour can be so devoted to the
physical improvement OF the children as
to add to their good habits by restraining
them from the bad, the object of system
attic exercise will be accomplished l
very much doubt whether a practical
supervisor of schools as we find them
will hazard his reputation by condemn
ing the introduction of gymnastics or
calisthenics. Under proper instruction,
guided by knowledge of the wants of
the physical system, there is no greater
auxiliary to intellectual advancement
1t serves to make the pupils more orderly
in school, from the fact that they are
controlled out. From my own expe-
rience, / can safely say that more boys
are injured by being left to choose their
own method of play than when compelled
to exercise on the gymnastic apparatus
No one will dispute but that there is less
quarreling, disputing, fighting and ju-
venile conspiracies, than exist under the
old system and had we proper buildings
and Fairgrounds, would certainly favor
the introduction of free gymnastics, con-
nected with music, into every school.
W. z. MITCHELL.