Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-04-21
Physical Culture in Public Schools.

NoDCln- IN the last Issue OF the AMERI-
CAN that the citizens are discussing the
Importance Of having physical culture
taught in the city schools, | trust few
thoughts that NAV not have occurred 10
all the readers, may not be ami>- By no
means DO | wish to u-urp the invitation
the editor has extended to some or all OF
the physicians to speak on rhi> subject,
nor do propose to attempt an Ordinary
discussion, but Simply to offer few sug-
gestions gathered from eminent educators.
In the first place at what does phy steal
culture aim: DR.. Emerson. president OF
the Emerson College Of Oratury Id Bo--
ton, writes in his published work that 1t
must furnish vital supply for The entire
organism" and the waste that demands
supply is explained by Anna G. Bracket
in these few well chosen WORDS AN
parts of the body are. Of course. a. long
life exists. in state Of continual wear,
old cells being constantly broken down
and new ones substituted in their places
II is only by continual death that We live
at all. But continual death calls for con
tinual creation and this continual destruc-
tion for continual repair"
Physical culture, a. taught to-day, differs
essentially from the gymnastics of form
er times Gymnaslic, aim at large mus
Giles, while the modern systems OF physical
culture, such a. the Swedish or Ling the
Emerson and the so-cailed Delsarte cult
vate quality of muscle. That this is de-
siraple Is proved by the well-known Illus
tration of the draft-horse and the racer,
the latter being able to travel more miles
in a day and to endure more fatigue than
the draft horse, although the draft-horse
has been trained to draw heavy weights
and has larger muscles-noreover the
racer has finer nerve and more acute
sensibilities. No more striking example
of quality of muscle is shown than in the
case of the little men from Borneo. exhib-
tied in Boston a few years ago, who
although weighing but forty pounds could
lift large men.
iOSN " NV cHPOSt Sitdl NullUIt IO1
children, say that being unrestricted by
clothes or conventionality they can exer-
else their limbs without systematic train
ing But" says Prof. Alden, of the Emer-
son College, although you have fine
library would your child ever have an
education if his reading was not directed?"
The body like the mind must be trained
and when once started on right lines half
the battle is won.
Then, too, child's play, like hard work or
heavy gymnastics, being unsystematic,
cannot cultivate all the muscles harmo-
niously, and those hardest worked feed on
the Others to the injury of both sets. 1t
is said that Hanlon, the celebrated oars
man, could not walk three miles without
fatigue, while many famous pedestrians
have been excelled by amateur athletes in
arm exercises Moreover, exercises to be
of value, must Ito quote DR.. Emerson)
follow each other in such consecutive
illogical law which can be phrased thus:
From rest to climax, from climax to re-
pose. Exercises should be begun gently.
The utmost power should be put forth at
the middle of the exercises aud the latter
part be less strong"
1t is scarcely necessary to dwell on the
aesthetic side of physical culture, for the
''fat chests, round, angular shoulders,
pipe arms, narrow backs and weak
walk" of the American child, that Prof.
Blake writes Of, have come to be pro.
verbal.
1t is homely old saying that "the proof
of the pudding is in the eating" and
wherever physical culture has been tested
in schools, it has been retained. At pres
ent, the public school teachers of Newton
Mass, are receiving, at the expense of the
city, such physical training as shall enable
them to introduce physical culture into
the schools under their own direction; and
the college athletics. of which so much is
said, are along the same line.
1t is not necessary to have many exer-
cises, but before the pupils can derive
much benefit they, or their parents, must
be made to see the necessity of daily
practice-"better fifteen minutes every day
than two hours once a week." say all
writer's on physical culture, whatever sys-
TEN they are advocating. DR.. Emerson
tells US that it is only ''in repetition that
good comes in any method of education"
and elsewhere he writes 1--WE must
secure permdnence in exercise"
Physical culture should continue through