Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-20
SEERLEYS REPORT
Returns from Tour of Inspec-
ton of Leading Colleges of
the Country
ON SUBJECT OF eYMNAsluMs
Remarkable Development Found to Be
Going on in all Institutions of Learn
ing-AthIetics Valued Highly, and
Game and Sport Side of Student Life
Esteemed.

Special to Republican.
Des Moines, Nov. 20.-Few of the
people of the state of Iowa as yet real
ize how much is being done for the in
stitutions of higher learning in the
state under the beneficent laws passed
by the twenty-ninth general assembly.
That legislature gave more for higher
education than any of it's predecessors.
The provision for special tax levy for
each one of the three institutions made
ii possible for each one to plan for the
future and to begin to build perma-
nentIy. The boards in charge of these
institutions are now laying these plans
and doing it well. The trustees of the
state normal school meet at Cedar Falls
today. The board will probably take
the preliminary steps in regard to the
building of the first large gymnasium
building erected exclusively for that
purpose in connection with any college
of the state. There has been little de-
velopment along this line in Iowa.
There are no precedents. The trustees
of the normal school therefore sent
President Seerley on trip of month
to the leading colleges of the country
to make a special investigation of the
subject of gymnasiums. Incidentally 1t
became necessary for him to make
some study of the general lines of edu-
cational work and development in the
leading colleges. He has embodied
the results of his work in comprehen-
sive report, which he will lay before the
trustees at their meeting at Cedar Falls.
In view of the fact that 1t Is first step
along that line in Iowa, and is sure to
be followed by similar action in other
colleges, his report has especial value.
In fact, lit is so good that it ought to be
published and be given general circula-
ton entire as state document. Presi-
dent Seerey evidently tried to go to the
very bottom of the whole thing and to
learn Just what is being done by the
very best modern colleges ana what is
best to Initiate or study. He visited the
rincliowf- -atwnhg"- -aluth tn tn tn thin
following Institutions: State universi-
ties in Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio;
normal schools at Boston, Westfleld
Bridgewater, Albany and Ypsilanti;
Oberlin, Yale, Harvard, Vassar, Brown,
Columbia, Smith, Wellesley, Mt. Holy
oke and Trinity. In opening his report
he says:
"The most impressive lesson taught
by this month of investigation has been
the remarkable development going on
everywhere. All the great universities
,,;1t 4 = A.,
greatest expense, and many new and
expensive buildings are either planned
or are in process of construction. Har-
ward, Yale and Columbia are the oldest
universities in the United States, but
they are centers of the most remarkab bic
activity in all directions that mean new
developments and improvements. They
even tear down old and historic build
ings to make room for the new and the
modern, and while they are old insti-
tutions they have in reality new homes
and new appliances that keep pace with
modern development and modern re-
quirements. Not an institution of any
excellent grade but what is trying to do
great things in the lines of physical
training, in that of laboratory equip
ment in all the sciences. in the collec-
ton of books for libraries and the ac-
cumulation of museums making scien-
tific teaching a practical and an effec-
tive possibility In no direction, possi-
bly,, is there more activity than in that
of erecting buildings for the care and
the Improvement of the strength de-
velopment and health of the students,
gymnasiums being the most modern
and the most perfectly equipped of all
the buildings, while they are manned
and managed by directors with expert
ability, medical education and extended
experience. The attempt is being uni
formly made to do corrective work for
the individual student so as to send
him away from school the best equip
ped in physique and personality that
training and education can give. This
spirit extends into the public high
schoolohssta tmb rfdw rfdw lyupupup
schools so that directors of physical
training with assistants we'll trained
and equipment to do the work are get
ting to be universal, and the work un-
dertaken is approved and commended
by all as necessary and desirable.
"The game and sport side of student
life is esteemed and supported in all
schools visited, whether for men or for
women. Athletics are valued and ap
proved because they have a part in a
full and complete education and be-
cause it gives an interesting side to the
work where the best developed men and
women are recognized. In addition ath-
letics give q chance for school spirit
and school interest in physical train
ing that is believed to be healthy and
beneficial to all. even tho the many do
not become athletes. The supreme OBJ
ject of physical training, however, is
not to develop athletics, but to insure
full developed physique and strength
for all students. Athletics becomes,
therefore, an incident rather than an
end, a spur rather than an object, and
a means rather than an aim. Hence,
athletics is quite generally segregated
from the gymnasium and the teams
have their own separate quarters, such
as headquarters, baths, lockers. ETC.,
separate from the main body of the
students who take gymnasium work
and who are the real representatives OF
the schools efforts. In the greater uni.