The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-02
THIS WELL-KNOWN EXPERT
IN PHYSICAL TRAINING SAYS:
"Thc Nervous System Is the Most Important Field of Education"
but 1T Is Not the Business of Public Schools to Train Up Ball
Players, Carpenters, Clerks or Any Other Specialists"
TTEH FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY EPUBLI
The subject OF physical training of chill
dreV. and especially in its relation to the
public schools. is exciting more and more
interest every day II is a question that is
being considered by leaders in educational
orc,es all oSer the country. and St. Lo:is
people are also taking hold Of the problem.
Last week -four of the leading teachers
Of Physical training i'm the United States
met i'm private conference in Denver. Colo.
10 discuss the present situation and "x-
change views on this various questions in
roived- These men were rot athletes and
are rot athletic trainers. They are men
who have made a life stGds of the p-ooer
physical training of children. They Were
Ilartvig Nissen. director Of physical train
ing in the Brookline. Mass. public schools
and instructor in massage and Swedish
gymnastics at the Harvard University
summer school. Swetojar Ivan Tonjorof.
gymnastic director of the Philadelphia pub
lie schools: Carl OLSON, physical director of
the San Francisco kindergarten system.
and Josef Hansen. director Of gynnas:ic
training at the Leland Stanford University.
Their discussions wee not AT all q: a
public nature. but Mr.. NisSen was inform
ally authorized to prepare a statement for
the public. calling attention to the present
status of physical training and urging an
eNter sion of the system throughout the
country. This statement will be forthcom-
ing before the neXt school year begins.
On his .eturn from Denver Mr.. Nissen
STOPPED one day in st. Louis at the Plant
ers Ho:eL. where he was entertained at an
informal dinner by several ST. Louis gem
tiemen. who knew him ard his work. 1t is
the intention of these gentlemen. who have
sons and daughters in various schools in
this city. TO urge some action In this re-
fIrd upon the School Board.
While he u-aS hare Mr. N;s-.. -. -,
sunday Republic some Information on the
subject of physical training for young chill
6ren.
What docs this term physical training
mean?' asked Mr.. Nissen at the outset of
the interview. Does 1t mean some exercise
to bring the blood into circulation, or TO de
relop certain muscles? Does IL mean games
and pastimes for the sake of recreation?
Does II mean sports or athletics for the
sake OF combat r rivalry? Or does it
mean a training and education Of all the
physical powers within the human body,
whereby. also. the mind may be trained to
= greater activity
Il take 1t to mean a training Of all the
physical powers. and such a training can
not be possible in a few minutes daily ex-
ercise. 1t must begin with the child. The
little one must be laugh; how to sit, stand
and walk: encouraged and cheered. Then
there must be certain exercises, which will
have both a Strengthening. corrective, and
Tecreative effect IN the children.
Physical training in education Is as old
N the idea Many countries. as. for ex-
recognized tb fact that the best results