The record-union., 1892-06-03
TEE SWEDISH SYSTEM.
Physical Culture as Taught at q
Grammar School.
Work of Three CIasses-Evldences Of
the Benefits of the Training-What
Teachers and Pupils Say.

ganized as the Sacramento Educational
Association, prevailed upon the City
Board Of Education to make the expert
ment tofintroducing systematized physical
culture exercises in a portion of the
public schools.
That the board might not feel finan-
cially embarrassed in doing so, the asso-
citation agreed to bear the expense for
time, with the understanding that if the
results proved valuable in the judgment
of the board, it would endeavor to make
physical training a feature in our school
system.
With this understanding, the associa-
ton sent abroad and brought out from
the East Swedish lady, Miss Maelstrom,
a graduate and trained teacher in the
Swedish physical culture exercises. She
took up the work in the Capital and Sut-
ter Grammar Schools last fail. and has
continued in the work through the school
year greatly TO the satisfaction Of the as
sociatIon and the teachers of those
schools, and, it Is believed, to the salts
faction of the Board of Education also.
The cost for the year has been borne by
the Educational Association, except the
furnishing OF the apparatus used, which
is OF small cost. The association adopted
the Swedish system because recon-
mended TO it as superior and best adapted
to children of the ages OF those III the
grammar and primary grades, and as
having best satisfied educators at the
East. But its members say that they are
perfectly free in their judgment regard
ing any system that proves To be the
best The German system was advocated
after the association brOached the subject,
and we believe has been also tried in one
of the city schools and has many friends.
1t is thought, however, by many, to
be less simple and gentle, ana better
adapted TO development of athletic vigor
in stronger bodies. But as 70 that there
is no prejudice, it is understood, in the
association for or against either system,
the desire being to obtain best results
only. We have to do at present with an
examination made of the Swedish sys-
tenn yesterday at the Capital Grammar
School
y representative Of the RECORD UNION
by mere chance ran across O number of
gentlemen Of the Educational Associa-
ton yesterday on their way to the Capt.
tai Grammar School, and drifted in with
them. They were II. Weinstock, DR.. q.
l.. Simmons, Dr. w. a. Briggs and Rev.
| Mr.. Hoskiuson. The party was in time
to witness the forenoon training of three
| classes, fifteen minutes each, in the
! Swedish movement exercises for physi-
dominated. Miss Maelstrom, the in
structor, is tall, commanding woman of
! decision of character and hrmneSS, and
! as is perfectly evident, admirably quail
! fled to discharge the duties that devolve
upon her. The main hallway of the
building is used as the exercise room. At
one end are swinging ropes and wooden
| climbing frame; at the other swinging
ropes, leaping and exercise bars, etc. On
! the sides of the hall framed bars for
varied exercises extend for half the dis
! tance.
| The children of the first class, third
grade, were first put through a number
OF facings and limb movements, calcu-
lated to gently try, strengthen and de-
Veiop the muscles OF the legs and arms.
Then followed bodily movements, bring
ing into play the muscles of the trunk
back and front, and intended to give
steadineSS, erectnesS of carriage, and to
develop the chest and correct the pOise of
the head.
Then came common and double time
marching and running, and next, weaY-
ing in and out of the meshes of great
wooden swinging frame. The next class,
of the second grade, was in the following
! fifteen minutes given totally different
! order of limb and bodily movements, in
! Guiding the use of the framed bars on the
side OF the hall; such as standing with
! the back TO them, the feet advanced, grasp
( ing bar as far up as the arms would
reach, and then bending the body out
ward, to time beats.
The class was then exercised, boys and
/ girls alike, in rope climbing, the majority
/ very easily reaching the ceiling though
! the teachers all testified that ut the outset
none could do SO. y third class was put
! through still different and more diff
cult exercises, including rope Jumping,
springing over the saddle, carrying the
weight Of the body along u bar by grasp
/ ing IL above the head swinging the body
| backward and forward over a bar by
grasping one above and one below the
! trunk.
/ Throughout all the exercises care was
given to breathing, to full inspiration and
slow expiration of the breath and to
! breathing through the nostrils. None OF
/ the exercises were trying, and neither
! exhaustion nor WEAKNESS was apparent
in any instance. The children appeared
to greatly enjoy the movements and
rather 10th to cease them. The Principal
and teachers all assured the visitors that
the strength of the pupils had been
greatly increased, their carriage bettered,
made more upright and graceful, and
that evidences of chest expansion and
general strength and Vigor OF the muscles
of limb and body were marked. They
were pronounced in favor of the physical
culture scheme, which augments the
ability Of the pupils for the duties of the
classroom and contributes largely to
| their physical health.
The physicians present, and subse-
quently prominent member OF the Board
of Education, were emphatic in the eX-
preston of opinion that in our schools
| there has been great neglect of the physi-
cal, in soGcitude to train the intellectual
| part.
From what we saw and learned the
judgment was reached that such phys
| ical exercises if introduced into the pri-
mary grades would give children coming
TO the grammar grades greatly bettered
/ frames and larger capacity for school
room work. The children themselves
bore testimony to the physical benefits
they have received in these exercises in
even so short time. Children were
pointed out who six months ago could
not lift their own weight, and were
stopped, f1at-chested and moved with
tagging and lIstless steps; yesterday the
same pupils with ease lifted themselves
head above the bars from one to three
times, easily assembled ropes to the cell
ing. bent backward and forward half way
TO the floor without losing their balance
even when on tiptOe, walked erect and
with the shoulders back, head up and
chest thrown forward. and moved with
sharp, sprlnging and vigorous steps. Yet
they are considered as only barely initi-
ated into the benefits of school physical
culture.
The exercises were not given as an ex-
hibltion. They were the regular every
day routine training exercises. and Miss
Maeistrom paid no attention in her work
which Is largely personal with the less
advanced little ones, to the presence o
the visitors, and apparently made no eff
fort TO show the class at their best PAGES
1t was very entertaining hour spent
in the school. Ii parents would drop in
and witness these exercises, as is the