The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1882-07-06
Our Schools.
Letter No, 4
QUINCY SCHOOL.

When Superintendent Philbuck was
master of the Quiscy School, in Boston,
he had charge Of seven hundred pupils,
gathered proniscuously from the dis
.rict. The school building had been
erected and occupied several years, and
yet l was told by him that not mark
of pencil or knife could be found on the
benches or walls Of the building, or even
upon the playing ground fence. | in
quired how such a remarkable result
ha1 been secured, "by the piliug on
motives" by the power ofpublic opin.
ion.
RECREATION ESSENTIAL TO DIsCI
PLINE.
The mind aud body are iuseparably
connected. Hence mental culture cau>
not be successfully carried on without
physical culture. Both mind and body
must have recreation more than the or.
binary recesses and holidays afford, snd,
as every teacher knows, theresT certain
hours and days when the -8end Of discord
seems to reign iE The schoolroom. He
cannot assign any reason, but the worry
atmostphere is pregnant with anarchy
and confusion. Aud what can the
teaeher do toovercome tlis evil. He
4 may tighten his discipline, but t6at will
not blind the volatile essence of copfu-
sion, He may ply the usual energies
of his administration, but resistance is
abnormal. He may fog, but every
blow uncovers the needlepoints of fresh
stiDgs. He may protest and supplicate.
scold and argue, iuveigh and insist
the demon is NOT exercised or even hit,
but is only distributed through fifty
fretty and 6dgety forms. He will en-.
counter the mischief successfully only
when he encounters 1t indirectly. Here
applies the proposed emedy-mental and
physical recreation, Let an unexpected
! change divert the attention Of the pu
pills; let some general theme be intro
duced in familiar lecture or exciting
narrative. or, if nothing better is a
hand, 1T all say the multiplication
table, or sing sold hundred" and th'
work is accomplished. The room il
ventilated of its r, s,l+ss contagion, ant
s,he ruries are Aad Now add to thi
mental the physical recreation Of schoo
gymnastics, aud the remedy is still
more sure.
VALUE OF SCHOOL GYMNASTICS.
Gymnastics are not only useful ant
important as means of physical devel
opcment, but also of school Government
The exercise serves as safety valve t
let off the excess Of animal spirits, which
/ fateG<s,iuuhhsaia, Il uths pupil in collision
with b.: MS 80 ssssyes the schoO
of that mos Gid inseusibility and care
less indifference which so often results
from the monotoDy and hardened ut
mosphers of the school room. 1t set
up a standard uf self government ane
forms the habit of subsection to the su
thority, and as it is "A regulator fthe phys
ical system, it becomes such to the con
duct under law. The gymnastic resem
bles the military drill, and has the same
general influence upon the pupil tina
the military has upon the soldier, to pro
duce system, good order, and obedience
Gymnastics also create self reliance ant
availablepower. This is more impor'
tant in life than brilliant talents or grea
learning. It is not the mere possession
of physical power that gives ability, bu
the coatrol Of that power which thi'
drill secures. And gymnastics preserve
and restore bcalth.
1t can be shown that the sanitary
condition of schools and colleges ha:
improved from 33 to so since the intro
drction of this systematic physical cul'
ture. Would we secure to future gen
erations the realization of the old mot
to, ssnaenS sana in corpore sano," We
must restore to our schools of every
grade systematic physical training
Fine gymnastics are calculated to cor
rect awkwardness Of manner and to cal.
tivate gracefulness of bearing. They
give agility, strength, and ready con-
troll of the muscles, and thus tend to
produce a natural and dignifed carriage
of the body and easy and graceful
movements of the limbs. Again, the
gynnastic drill awakes buoyancy oi
spirit and personal sympathy. Concert
Of action brings the class into personal
contact in variety of ways, and tends
not only to create mutual good will, but
the greatest interest and enthusiasm.
This promotes improved. circulation
digestion and respiration, and induces
feeling of cheerfulness and hopefullness
thet dispels despoudency and every evil
spirit.
The gymnastic garb must leave the
limbs free from restraint and the mus
cles and vital organs free from pressure
Hence, under this treatment, the beau
tiful form is left as God made it, to be
developed according to His own plan.
We mark this rs another advantage o!
gymnastics ; to correct and control the
rulnous habit of fashionable female
i = -