New-York tribune., 1896-11-23
1b,9s?l g y J =
Wonoap}b|aaq$%: : AhEM Eh *
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
.c,rops IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Now PAYING GREAT ATTENTION
TO THE SUBJECT
,yuo1N-MENT or TWO SUPERVISORS. DR.
.,,crsrA REoUA AND MISS SOPHIE NICoIAI.
,vAYr-,Ss NEW INTEREST AMONG
THE TEACHERS.
THE TEACHERS.


THE TEACHERS.
,.vs,.al education in the public schools Of New
-. &c now engaging the attention or all edu-
80 - 4, our city. For the last three or four years
ea'O'' .a,e been regular exercises in few of the
'he'e '.ndor the direction OF DR.. Gardner Smith
schoV.. ,,ses system embodying principles from
"no 49, 49, cs,man and Swedish methods. For many
Uo' . .xcen.ing in the few schools above men,
!.a the amount and quality Of physical exercise
w. aa,snded entirely upon the Intelligence ana
ha' h, ~ the teacher IN charge. The appoint
'uue :, ,uo supervisors OF physical education
me- -, .,s,sta Reaua and Miss Sophie J. Nicoiai-
~. ,sned a new interest among the teachers
- ,ror daily experience. best know the pene-
a. 90 no derived from correct use OF physlcai eN-
-, not only in the consequent improved order
-, classrooms but in the physical develop
~ -, =, the children under their care. Hereafter
NV" NV ork in this branch is to be definite and al
,a,sd as in all Other decar,2er 5.
new system is beias introduced by the super
,..-s which will incorporate regular daily drill
=, .hout fifteen minutes duration into the work OF
rsrv nublic school class in the city. Ihe lolo"-
i,g letter. which was sent 10 every p''iicIpa, VI
.,smmar and primary schools Will best explain
.r,sr,otic work in all the schools is being OBJ
tained ~ e,.o,do,+.s Ofnce
No l4S Grand-st. New-Nork CITY.
November ., 1876.
To Principals OF Grammer and Primary schools
IN order 10 have n uniform system OF ph!slca
education throughout the city course n OF hy
beginning Monday, Noyernber 10, MI o DC an6 Mss
sonbis ! Nicolai according to the following plan
One teacher from each department nS snS Week De I'm
further notice. the course In the distrc. 10 Mi'iv IN
,mrr , rstruct the other teachers in the departmen
10 which she belongs. on the hrst schooi oaN' Il
poSsioe' esons are not series of lectures; the
exercises 10 be executed by the representatives.
sert rbo nr,nc,nal and two teachers Of each depart
ment are urged to be present from time TO time as
Principals shall keep record Of the names name Oft OF the
representatives sent. Each teacner siidl 49, 49,
conv of the lessons given in his or nsr cassroom
The lessons by the supervisors will begin at 20
lives al such hour Will enable them TO be pres
en- Tb LESSONS viii be given in the following schools
Toned in the schedule accompanying ths clrcu!ar'
Very respectfully, c-;,- r., S,,,a1irtaniar ~
LESSONS TO TEACHERS.
~. ars+ lesson the one given last week. has
hse, ted eight times four times by each
supervisor In this way representatives from the
sa schools have received the instruction. ana they
are imparting il TO all the other teachers OF thelT
,esnsct,ve schools This lesson. which was heard
nv The Tribune reporter on Tuesday afternoon AZ
Grammar School No. 76 was given by Miss Nicoiai'
NJ peoua at the same hour repeating the
,,ms lesson in Grammar School No. os Besides
the thirty-hve delegates required at No Is there
v.rs more than one hundred principals ana teach-
en present.
Miss Ncolai was introduced by Dr.. Lee, one or
tbs assistant superintendents Of the Board OF tdu
rauon re exDianed the recent visits OF the SUI
uerv,sors 10 the classes OF the various schools
Dame Rumor" he said, with her long tongue
has been abroad. and the idea has become current
,h., tho object Of these visits has been to cr;icse
the methods used in calisthenc drill by the various
teachers. and to return 10 Grand-st with requests
for the removal Of those inefficient In that line
DR. Lee emphasized the fact that the object OF
those visits has been very far from that. The new
supervisors have been famiIiarizing themselves
with the work now being done and the possibilities
permitted by the crowded school-rooms
Miss Nicolais manner evidenced her own thor
ough conviction OF the importance OF physcal edu-
cation She said that the lessons would be graded
with progression in movement from grace 10 graue
from the primary to the graduating classes; that
there would be fifteen twenty lessons given, and
from them the teacher would be at liberty 10
select the movements best suited TO her class that
the work would be classified under three general
heads-edu,ational. recreative and aesthetic
The first the basis of all good work. educates
the body TO obey the will. When this IS accom-
pl.shed It Is easy 10 instill ideas
In the second, the recreative the movements are
accompanied by music, and gymnasuc pays Will
be introduced
From tn. third the aesthetic, which has been
described self-control OF the muscles. ease ana
grace or manner be obtained.
The method employed in this lesson was the
Swedish: other lessons will contain ND mixture o OF
ments were free and without music 1this being
pecular 70 al Swedish gymnastlcs) ana weIs cur cur
apparatus could be had
Especial attention was given TO work in crowded
ciassr9ons where there Is rack OF space aha dres =
air Means for utilizing the forr CT and increasing
The latter were suggested drill by the cas-,
ustrated the principles taught. The motions were
Of the simplest nature with arms, feet head and
The same delegates will meet at the same place
Miss Nicolil going then to No. 5s. In this way
both supervisors hope to become personally ac-
quainted with every teacher. and thus bo able TO
give them more assistance in their work
Ten or twelve OF the new public school buildings
have gymnasuns and Superintendent Jasper said
TO- The Tribune reporter this week that every
ecnool building is 20 have n gymnasium ana tha'
MS Will be accomplished as fast as possible
wlLL-EQtIPPED SCHOOLS.
Grammar School No G. at Eighty -nfth-st. and
Madison-ave. Miss Blake principal OF the girls and
Mr.. Hudson OF the boys department, has the
finest equipped gymnasium Of any public school In
the city 1t occupies the entire top floor. and Is not
only airy spacious. but. with rs sloping sides
exposed beams and rafters. and rows upon lows o.
.ontsl bars inmninir va" ro,ipments and mattrcsses
fall on. its chest weights, swinging rope ana AZ
me other pshphanalia. is very picturesque IN
achers and pupils however have as yet had onl>
ne pleasure and profit to be derived from yisitins
hr summer md was Intended for use this fall. Bu
owing 70 the delay in filing the contract Tor m
completion ofthe repairs upon the EiShty-seventn
- school thdr nearest neighbour. the children o.
mat school still without local habitation.
. far thei school life is concerned The Eighty
Hth-st. school not without regret. but with grea
compassion. tsok pity upon the little ones or th'
primary department OF Eighty-seventh m st. anc
generously opened to them the doors OF their much
loyed and eagerly anticipated gymnasium. and there
me primaries are st!ll, and will De until! the com
pesson OF thei own building.
Mr. HUDSON TALKS
Ar. Hudson poke with enthusiasm OF the need o
more attention to physical culture in the training
tnc young. bit" said he. there Is a lack OF tim
Tor al the things required Of US at Albany. The re
Yorements continue to increase. while NOR
uns Is given -. and nothing else is ever dropped
Hut. askei the reporter. will not the energ.
sxefted In the fifteen minutes daily spent in phys
icsi exercise and the rest obtained secure 81
much better oder and attention thai time wal