The Brookhaven leader., 1890-07-31
WoMAN'S PHYSICAL HEALTH.
Importance OF Bodily Training and lily.
gienIc PrecautIon.

Importance OF Bodily Training ana ny
gienIc PrecautIon.
Mr.. Frederick Treves calls attention
to perfectly new branch Of work un-
dertaken by the society with reference
to physical education. Within the last
few years an immense deal Of attention
had been directed to the matter Of phys
ical education. 1t had 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 real
ize that proper physical education must
be conducted on as precise and as care
full scientific lines as the ordinary edu-
cation of the mind. Parents were quito
content to send their children TO gym
nasiums, and when they had done this
felt satisfied that their physical educa-
tion was complete. They we're unaware
that there was no proper control over
the teachers Of gymnastics and calls
themes, a large number Of whom were
people totally unfit for their work.
The particular object of the society
had, perhaps, rather more reference to
children and women than to men and
boys. AS matter of fact, the latter
class was admirably looked after. No
one could find much to criticise in
the athletic pursuits of our public
schools. When they came to the Lon
don shop boy they found his condition
had been materially changed; he had
taken to bicycling and other pursuits
When they came to schools, and espe.
cially girls schools, it must be con-
fessed that the conditions were about
as bad as they very we'll could be.
They heard a good deal of the enor-
nous advances of civilization during
the last fifty or hundred years, and
their enormous improvement on the un-
fortunate savage, who had straight
limbs, graceful carriage, and an alb
sence 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 a
iudiciously supervised system OF phys
ical education, exercises and due at
tention 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
schools, under persons trained, skilled
and having the requisite knowledge to
make such physical training in all
respects useful and in no case injurious.
Neither could be said of the very linn
tied 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, calisthenics and physical
exercises as had fulfilled the necessary
curriculum and passed the required ex
aminationS.
The society hoped by the institution
of this diploma to encourage the de- |
velopment of physical education in this
country; to render such training pre-
else, effectual and 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, phys
ical training, and that they should not
undertake the treatment of deformity
or disease by movement cures" rem
edial exercises, massage, and the like.
The diploma would certify that the
candidate had passed an examinat tion
in the art and science of physical edu-
cation, had fulfilled the curriculum re-
quired by the society, and was fully
qualified to act as an instructor of gym
nastics, calisthenics and physical exer-
cises generally Medical Jour
nal