Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-16
EXERCISE FOR GIRLS.
THE APPLICATION OF CALISTHENlcS
 COMMENTED UPON.

COMMENTED UPON.
 Physicians and Members of the Board ef
 Education of Philadelphia Express Di-
 versity of Opinion-An Agree, However,
 That Some Exercise Is Necessary.
 A number of prominent men, who are in a position to know, expressed their ideas ln 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 mon who gave their ideas so freely included several members of the board of education and Drs. Korndoerfer, Mohr, Van Baum and Betts
 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- | iurious,, and in that case the fault lies i With the parents. Calisthenics as prac- ticed at the Normal school are not vio- lent, and are not injurious as far as 1 know"
 THE DOCTORS ARE GRANNIES.
 A. s. Jenks, of the Normal school committee: "The doctors who made such a statement are old grannies After child has been sitting ill a school room for five hours little exercise is needed. Calisthenics have been practiced in the . Normal school for fifteen years that know of, and 1 never heard of a 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. MoEr: ''I have been misunderstood on this question. I 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 so hurt full as the long sessions which scholar is obliged to sit out and not get their regular midday meal.''
 Dr. Korndoerfer: "I do not wish it to be understood that I am finding fault with the board of education. I am not. l 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 a result, the child comes home and con- plains of sore back. I advocate the use of light weights, slow movements, increasing i'll motion only as the muscles and joints become accustomed to the rapid movement. The practice should be repeated daily, and not left for a week at time, as it is now"
 THE METHOD NOT PROPERLY APPLIED.
 Dr Van Baum: "I 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 Glass c, No. 3, is exercised every other Friday for two consecutive hours, while q number of B classes had an hour daily for two weeks An ordinary pupil cannot stand such work as this"
 Dr. Betts: II consider the require ments Of tho Girls Normal school, to- gether with the long hours, as too great a strain on the health of many of the pupils. I 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 con- plained of poor health"
 | Simon Gratz: ''The doctors who object to calisthenics 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 arc of heavy woolen material and are much warmer than their ordinary street dresses. | 1 have never known of girl complain ing since the method has been in use We use bio Lewis system and that proves that the physicians don't 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 Class B: ''It's absurd to say that the exercises are too violent. The force of the movement is not sufficient to injure baby. As to the scholars looking wan and tired that is rather due to the l 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 considerate of our comfort. ."-Philadelphia Times
 It Costs Five Cents a Drop.
 ''It's oil of roses," said the drug clerk. l "I ,ook outr and he made a dive with