The daily critic., 1890-07-11
wOMAN'S PHYSICAL HEALTH.
Importance of bodily Training aud
uygienic Precautions,


uyglenic Precautions.
Nom me H1iFsA lis8iral Journal.
Mr. Frederick Trevcs calls attention
TO perfectly new branch Of work
undertaken by the society with refer
Cnce TO physical education. Within
the last few years an immense deal OF
attention has been directed % the matter
Of physical education. IL has been
pointed out that the education Of the
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 as precise and rs careful scientific
lines as the ordinary education of the
mind. Parents were quite content to
send their children 10 gymnasiums, and.
when they had done this, felt satisfied
that their physical education was CON
plete. They were unaware that there
was no proper control over the teachers
Of gymnastics and ealisthenics, a large
number Of whom were people totally
unfit for their work.
The particular object OF the society
had, perhaps, rather more reference 70
children and women than to men and
boys. As a matter Of fact the latter
class was admirably looked after. No
one could find much 10 Criticise IN the
athletic pursuits Of our public schools.
When they came 10 the London shop
boy they found his condition had been
materially changed; he had taken TO
bicyling and other pursuits
When they came 10 schools, aud es
pecially girls schools, II must be con
fessed that the conditions were about
as bad as they very well could be- They
heard a good deal Of the enormous al
vances Of civilization during the last
fifty or hundred years, and their mar
YelOus improvement on the unfortunate
savage who had straight limbs, graceful
carriage, and an absence of the ordinary
aches and pains, and he was not dis
posed 20 be always taking tea or 10 be
living In an atmosphere Of tonics.
People did not seem 10 be aware that
by a judiciOusly supervised system of
physical education, exercises and due
attention 10 the development Of the
body, Il was possible 10 alter It's pro
portions, 10 reduce redundances and 20
develop deficient and feeble muscles.
Motives Of vanity and regard for the
future physical development Of their
girls might 50 influence mothers who
were Indifferent 10 higher consideFa-
ti0ns 10 see that the physical education
Of girls was carried out, whether in
families OF In schools, under persons
trained, skilled and having the requi-
site knowledge 10 make such physical
training In all respects useful, aud In no
case injurious.
Neither could be said Of the very
limited amount Of physical training
nov given 20 girls. 10 was pointed out
that The National Health Societv's
diplomas would be granted 10 such
teachers of gymnastics, Calislheuics aud
pbysiCa exercises as had fulfilled tue
necessary curriculum and passed the
required examinations.
The society hoped by the institution
of this diploma DO encourage the devsl
opmeut of physical education 90 this
country t0reuder such training precise
etfectual and scientific; 10 protect the
public on one hand, from incompetent
teachers, and on the other % establish
the position of such instructors as were
fully qualified. II vas intended. h0g
ever that The work of such teachers
should be devoted and restricted t0 fle
one legitimate object SGT forth in the
diploma, namely physical training, aud
thai they should NOT undertake rue
treatment of deformty or disease by
movement cures. remedial eNaT-
Cises, massage aud the ike
The diploma would certify tha. IRE
candidate had passed an examination iH
the art and science OF physical elaaa
ton, had fulfilled The curriculum n
quirgd by the society, and wasflIIv
qualified % aet AS au Instructor Of gym
uastics cahstheuics aud physical 5Ner
eises generally.