The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1895-02-15
azioms to which physical education

is that which reaches the largest
number and does most for the weak
est. End. That which makes the
hardest work attractive. 3rd Thai
which most successfully CO ordinates
body. mind, and viii. The end Of
physical education is not the manu-
facture of mere muscle. It is the
Development Of body strong to sup
port. prompt to obey and efficient to
execute, the thought and purpose Of
of the man. Let US inquire into the
portance of physical culture. We
know that very intellectual act is &C
companied and conditioned by mol
ocular changes in the cells and fibers
of the nervous system, and is ulti-
mately depending upon the quantity
and quality of blood that supports
this activity of nerve and brain. We
know, too, that the combined in
fiuence of trying climate, and the
strain involved in adjustment to new,
complex and rapidly changing in
dustrial economic and social con
ditions is overdrawing the vitality
and nervous energy of our people at
rapid and runious rate. This
strain falls most heavily upon the
professional and mercantile classes
into which our students are very
largely drawn. It is therefore the
duty of every high school or college
to send out its graduates physically
equipped to stand this strain them
selves, and to hand down to their off
spring constitutions as good and
strong as their own. 1t is in my es-
timation, perfectly possible to main
tain course in physical education
which will give to every student who
is not hopelessly handicapped by
heredity or dissipation il sound and
healthy body to be the support of Il
vigorous intellect and the instru
ment of resolute will.
Every writer on education from
Plato to Herbert Spencer has advo-
Gated physical activity as a means Of
attaining that full orbed and harmo
NOUS development of all parts of the
human economy SO essential to TO
bust vigorous health. What are you
doing for the cause Of physical edu
cation in Ford c.unty? Have you
hung your harp on the willows and
been hypnotized by the fulsome
praise and fattery of the mechanics
and materialists of your profession?
Arouse from your lethargy, Oh! you
molders of future manhood and
womanhood, or the weight of your
awful responsibilities as teachers may
sometime crush you. I will not
speak of the methods of physical
education as time will not permit,
but will pass to the medical study of
the pupil. The pathological con-
ditions of childhood with which the
teacher is especially brought in con-
tact are principally those of the eye,
ear, nose and throat.
Numerous tests are made in this
country and Europe has developed
the fact. that myopla or near sight
exists to All alarming extent in the
schools, that from 10 to II per cent
Of pupils from 6 to 10 years are so
affected, and that the per cent rapidly
increases in the higher grades. until
40 per cent have been found by some
observers. This condition is largely
due to bad light, small type, over use
Of eyes, unfavorable hygenic sur
roundings, and heredity and nation
atty. The Germans Are greater suf
ferers in that direction than any other
nation. DR.. Francis Bowling, in his
Investigations along this line in the
Cincinnati schools, declares that the
poor condition of the black board
and states had much to do with caus-
ing myopia, and urged the use of
slate black boards and paper pads
instead Of states. Prof. Homer, Of
Zurich goes farther and demands The
Punishment of black boards and
states from the school. DR.. BOWL
ing adds, "the desks is another