The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-08-02
woMAN's PHYSICAL HEALTH.

Importance Of Bodily Trainln1 and Hy-
gienlo Prscaation.
Mr.. Frederick Tfsves calls abandon toe
perfectly new branch Of the work undse.
taken by the society with references TO phys
ical education. Within tho Last few
an immense deal Of attention had BEEN ID.
eected to the matter Of physical education.
Il had been pointed ont that the education
Of tho mind was well looked after while
The education Of the body was practically
allowed to look after itself. Parents did
not realize that proper physical education
must be conducted On ~ precise and a
careful scientific lines q tho ordinary edu-
cation Of the mind. Parents Hero quite
content to send their children TO gym
nasin, and when they had done this telt
satisfled TINT their physical education was
complete. They wefe unaware that there
no proper control over tho teachers OF
gymnastics and calisthsnics, . largo num-
Der Of whom were people totally unfit for
their work.
The particular object Of the society had,
perhaps, rather more rseerence to children
and women than to men and boys. As .
matter Of fact, the latter class wa admir-
ably looked after. No enc could ind much
to c~riticise in the athletic pursuits of our
public schools. When they come 20 tho
London shop boy they found his condition
had been materially changed; he had taken
to bicycling and other pursuits. When
they came to schools, and especially 10
girls schools, II must b confessed thst tho
conditions were about a. bad - theyJveH
well could be. They heard . good desl u
the enormous advances Of civilization dur
ing the last fifty or one hundred years, and
their marvellous improvement on the I'M
fortunnte savage, who had straight limbs,
graceful carriage and an absence Of the
ordinary aches and pains, and he was not
disposed. to be always taking tea or to b
living In an atmospheee Of tonnes. People
did not seem to be aware that by q Judi
ciously supervised system Of physical edu-
cation, exercises and due attention to the
development Of the body II was possible to
alter its proportions. 10 reduce redund-
ances and to develop deficient and feeble
muscles.
Motives Of vanity and regard for the
future physical development Of their girls
different to higher considerations to see
that the physical education Of girls was
carried out, whether in families or In
schools, under persons trained, skilled and
having the requisite knowledge to mako
such physical training In all respects use-
full and in no case injurious. Neither could
be said Of the very limited amount Of ply
steal training now given to girls. Il was
pointed out that the National Health 90
ciety.s diploma would be granted to such
teachers Of gymnastics, ~calisthenics and
physical exercises a. had fulfilled the neces-
sary curriculum and passed the required
examinations.
The society hoped by the institution Of
this diploma to encourage the development
Of physical education in, this country; 20
render such training precise, e6ectual and
scientific; to protect the public. on thsone
hand, from Incompetent teachers. and, on
tho other, to establish tho position Of such
Instructors a. were fully qualified. II was
Intended, however, that the work Of suoh
teachsu should DO devoted aud restricted
to the ono Legitimate object sss forth In tAe
diploma, namely, physical training, and
that they should not undertake the treat
ment Of detosmity or disease By "movo-
meut cures,n remedial ensrctses, 'fmns-
sags and the like. The diploma would esr
tify that tho candidate bad passsd an az
animation in the at and science Of ph1saoal
education, had fulfilled the curriculum 10
quired BY tho society, and VA fully quail
6ed 70 cot rs an instructor Of gymnastics,
calisthenics and physical exercises gamer
Ay.-Bsitish Medical Journal