St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-23
WOMAN'S PHYSICAL HEALTH.
Importance of Bodily Trainin,
and HygieniC PrecautiOn,
British Medical journal:


British Medical Journal:
Frederick Treves calls attention to
perfectly new branch of the work
undertaken by the society with refer
ence to physical education. Within the
last few years an immense deal of at
tention had been directed to the matter
of physical education. 1t had been
pointed out that the education of the
mind was we'll looked after while the
education of the body was practically af-
lowed to look after itself. Parents did
not realize that proper physical educa-
ton must be conducted on as prec Use
and as careful scientific lines as the
ordinary education of the mind. Pare hts
were quite content to send their childr EN-
to gymnaSiums, and, when they had
done this, felt satisfied that their phys
ical education was complete. They
were unaware that there was no proper
control over the teachers of gymnastics
and caliSthenics, large number of
whom were people totally unfit for their
work.
The particular object for the society
had, perhaps, rather more reference to
children and women than to men and
boys. AS matter Of fact, the latter
Cldoo was lOOhCu dltCls NO
one could find much to criticize in the
athletic pursuits of our public schools.
When they came to the 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 to
girls schools. it must be confessed
that the conditions were about as bad as
they very we'll could be. They heard a
good deal of the enormous advances of
civilization during the last fifty
or hundred years, and their
marvellous improvement on the I'M
fortunate 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 be living in an atmosphere of
tonics. People did not seem to be
aware that by judiciously supervised
system of physical education, exercises,
and due attention to the development
of the body, it was possible to alter its
proportions, to reduce redundances, and
to develop deficient and feeble muscles.
Motives of vanity and regard for
the future physical development of
their girls might so influence
mothers, who were Indifferent 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 hav-
ing the requisite knowledge to make
such physical training in all respects
useful and in no case injurious. Neither
could be said of the very limited amount
of physical training now given to girls.
1t was pointed out that the National
Health society's diplomas would be
granted to such teachers of gymnastics,
caIisthenics and physical exercises as
had fulfilled the necessary curriculum
and passed the required examinations.
The society hoped by the institu ton
of this diploma to encourage the devel-
opment of physical education in this
country; to render such training p re-
else, effectual aud scientific; to protect
the public. on the one hand, from in
competent teachers, and, on the other,
to establish the position of such in
structors as were fully qualified. 1t was
intended, however, that the work of
such teachers should be devoted and
restricted to the one legitimate
object set forth in the diploma,
namely, physical training, and
that they should not undertake the
treatment of defOrmity or disease
by movement cures" remedial eXer-
cises,' massage and the like. The dip
Iona would certify that the candidate
had passed an examination in the art
and science of physical education, had
fulfilled the curriculum required by the
society, and was fully qualified to act as
an instructor of gymnastics, calisthen1cS
and physical exercises generally.