Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1889-03-16
EXERCISE FOR GIRLS.
THE APPLICATION or cALlSrHENlcs
COMMENTED UPON.


Educat,on Of Philadelphia Express nj
versity Of Opinion--All Agree. However
That Some Exercise 10 Nsccssary.
A number Of prominent men, who are
In 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 q
considerable degree. The men who gave
their ideas SO freely included several
members Of tho board OF education and
Drs. Korndocrfer, Mohr, Van BAUM and
Belts.
Superintendent MacAlister said: "Ju-
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 the fault lies
with the parents. Calisthenics rs prac-
ticed at the Normal school are not vio-
lent, and are not injurious IN far rs ]
know"
THE DOCTORS ARE GRANNlES.
A. s. jerks, Of the Normal school
committee: 1.-THE doctors who made such
statement are old grannies. After a
child has been sitting in a school room
for five hours little exercise is needed.
Calisthenics have been practiced in tho
Normal school for fifteen years that I
know of. and never heard Of single
case of sickness or bad health resulting.
The weights used are light ones, and
would not harm an infant They are
great benefit and should be used more
extensively than they are. The chest is
expanded and the muscles given full
play. I'll wager that none of the physi-
clans ever saw the pupils at exercise"
DR.. Mohr: II have been misunderstood
on this question. never intended to say
that calisthenics were generally inju-
rious. With some scholars they IRE, but
with the majority the pupils health is
benefited. They are not nearly SO hurt
full as the long sessions which scholar
is obliged to sit out and not get their
regular midday meal"
DR.. Korndoerfer: II do not wish it to
i
with the board of education. am not.
only desire to point out an error and
show how it can be remedied. The pres
ent system of calisthenics is bad one.
They should use Lewis system. At pres
ent the 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 so. and, as q
result, the child comes home and COM
plains Of sore back. I 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 week
at time, as it is now"
THE METHOD NOT PROPERLY APPLIED.
DR. Van Baum: ~ indorse calisthenics
when they are properly applied to the
individual pupil. 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. know that Class G, No. 8,
is exercised every other Friday for two
consecutive hours, while number of B
classes had an hour daily for two weeks.
An ordinary pupil cannot stand such
work as this"
DR.. Belts: II consider the require
ments Of the Girls Normal school, to.
gether with the long hours. as too great
q strain on the health Of many of the
pupils. / have frequently noticed that
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: 1.-THE doctors who object
to calisthenics in the Normal school DOM
know what they are talking about. The
| weights are Of light wood and the motor
is not violent or jerky. The dresses orr
Of heavy wooden material and are much
warmer than their ordinary street dresses
have never known Of girl complain
ing since the method has been in use
Weuse Dio Lewis system and that proves
that the physicians don't know what the.
are talking about. The scholars like
and the School Of Practice scholars, littl'
0-year-old tots, are especially delighted.
!. A girl in Class B: cts absurd to SO,
! that the exercises are too violent. TIL
force Of the movement is not sufficient t.
injure baby. As to the scholars looking
wan and tired, that is rather due to tn
overcrowded condition Of the classes ant
the lack Of proper ventilation, which w
often experience. The exercises do no
continue for two hours on any occasion
, and oa1r teache, Ia verv considerata Of NJ,