, 1889-03-23
EXERCISE FOR GIRLS
THE APPLICATION OF cALIsTHENIcs
COMMENTED UPON.

Education of Philadelphia Express "A Dr.
verzity of opinion-An Agree, However,
That Some Exercise Is Necessary.
A number Of prominent men, who are
in n position to know, expressed their
ideas in regard to the effect produced by
the use of calisthenics. The subject,
which was discussed by the Homeopathic
Medical society, is thoroughly familiar
to them, and their opinions varied to a
considerable degree. The men who gave
their ideas 30 freely included several
members of the board of education and
Drs. Korndoerfer, Mohr, Van Baum and
Belts.
Superintendent MacAlister said: Gu
dicious exercise Is essential to everybody.
The lady who teaches calisthenics in the
Girls Normal school understands her
business. There may be some pupils to
whom the use of these exercises is in
furious, and in that case tho fault lies
with tho parents. C~alisthenics as prac-
ticed at the Normal school are not vio-
lent, and are not injurious as far as /
know"
THE DOCTORS ARE GRANNIEs.
A. s.. jerks, Of tho Normal school
committee: The doctors who made such
a statement are old grannies. After a
child has been sitting in n school room
for five hours a little exercise is needed.
C~alisthenics ave been practiced in the
Normal school for fifteen years that /
know of, and / never heard of n single
cas- of sickness or bad health resulting.
The weights used are light ones, and
would not harm an infant. They are n
great benefit and should DO used more
extensively than they are. The chest is
expanded and h muscles given full
play. I'll wager that none of the physi-
clan eve saw the pupils at exercise"
DIR. Mohr II AVE been misunderstood
on this question. l never intended to say
that calisthenics were generally inju-
rious. With some scholars they are, but
with the majority the pupils health Is
benefited. They are not nearly 30 hurt
full as the long sessions which n scholar
is obliged to sit out and not get their
regular midday meal"
DIR. Korndoerfer: 81 do not wish it to
be understood hat 1 am finding fault
with the board of education. l am not.
l only desire to point out an error and
show how it can be remedied. The pres
ent system of calisthenics is n bad one.
They should use Lewis system. At pres
ent tho exercise is entirely too violent.
The arms are thrown out and upwards
with great force. Why, it's enough to
tear the child's chest to pieces. Then,
again, the children are told to bend their
bodies backward. They do 80, and, as a
result, tho child comes home and com
plains of n sore back. l advocate the
use of light weights, slow movements,
increasing in motion only as the muscles
and joints become accustomed to the
rapid movement. The practice should
be repeated daily, and not left for n week
ut n time, rs it is now"
II METHOD NOT PROPERLY APPLIED.
DIR Van Baum: II indorse calisthenics
when they are properly applied to the
individual pupil. 1 consider the method
at the Girls Normal school open to criti-
cism. The suits cause the removal of
the ordinary skirts and are much shorter
and of lighter material. The selection
and length of time devoted to the exer-
else is often injudicious, frequently caus-
ing fatigue. l know that Glass G, No. 8,
is exercised every other Friday for two
consecutive hours, while n number of B
classes had an hour daily for two weeks.
An ordinary pupil cannot stand such
work as this"
DR.. Belts: 81 consider the require
ments of tho Girls Normal school, to-
gether with the long hours, as too great
n strain on the health of many of the
pupils. / have frequently noticed hat
girls began their work in the fall with
ruddy faces and all the evidences of
good health, and by the following June
they looked wan and tired and COM
planned of poor health"
Simon Gratz: Thee doctors who object
to caIisthenics in the Normal school don't
know what they are talking about. The
weights are of light wood and the motion
is not violent or jerky. The dresses are
of heavy wooden material and arc much
warmer than their ordinary street dresses.
/ have never known of n girl complain
ing since the method has been in use.
We use Dio Lewis system and that proves
that the physicians dom know what they
are talking about. The scholars like it
and the School of Practice scholars, little
6-year-old tots, are especially delighted"
A girl in Glass b. "It's absurd to say
that tho exercises are too violent. The
force of the movement is not sufficient to
injure n baby. AS TO the scholars looking
wia and tired that is rather due to the
overcrowded condition of the classes and
the lack of proper ventilation, which we
often experience. The exercises do not
continue for two hours on any occasion,
and our teacher is very c~onsiderate of our
comfort. Philadelphia Times.
1t Costs Five Cents n Drop.
cts oil of roses" said the drug clerk.