The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-30
SUPT, KEN6A[L WOULD HIRE
SCHOOL MUSCLE BUILDER
Physical instruction, He Tells the
Board, Has Been Neglected
in This City.
PUPILS NEED EXERCISE
Play Grounds Enlarged-Council
of Women PrOteStS-Other Bust
ness Is Transacted.

That ii is the object of the public schools
of indianapolis to give physical training
equal prominence with the mental and
moral development was evidenced last
night by the report of Superintendent Ken
dali to the board of school commissioners.
1t is the opinion of Mr.. Kendall that the
physical training of the pupils of the city
schools has been neglected to an extent.
and, that the best results may be accom-
plished both mentally and morally. the rec
reation of the children should be systema-
tized.
The school board authorized Superintend-
ent Kendall to appoint physical director
for the elementary schools. and to pro-
vide some scheme, which is TO be sub
mitted to the board, providing for a physic-
al director in each of the high schools. Mr..
Kendall in his report, said:
Il wish to call the attention of the board
to the need of more attention to physical
training in the schools. / have felt that
the schools required the services of a man
who could devote his entire time TO this
work; such a competent man is hard 10
find.
THE director of physical training should
not only look after the gymnastics, calls
themes, the general physical training and
recreation of pupils, but he should also
look after the conditions under which the
work is dore from day TO day.
ital well invested. The returns would be
found in healthier, better developed chill
dren and in lessened worry on the part OF
many parents who send their children to
school with dread of injury, real or fan
cied-often fancied, ii is true. but none the
less real--to the health of their children. a
strong bodily constitution is so much cap
ital, and the school must increase and not
impair IL. The child in school can do his
most effective work in ARITHMETIC or geog-
raphy when his blood is in circulation and
hf- cr1a
Have really taken sufficient account
in elementary schools and in high schools
OF the increased worth of the individual
whose nerves are steady, whose head is
clear, whose blood is red, whose sleep is
sound, whose temper is sweet, whose con-
stitution is iron?
I'm the practice of our schools we are not
without recognition of these facts. There
is recess of fifteen minutes each half day.
This recess is of more value than of old.
because many principals and teachers take
an active personal interest in making it a
time of real relaxation and recreation for
girls as well as boys. In some schools sew
eral kinds of games go with apparatus
provided often at the expense of the teach
ers. The teachers are on the playground
to suggest but not repreSs. The evils of
the school playground, sometimes COM
planned of, are thus minimiZed. Children, of
course, cooperate with one another in the
games, and the whole is educative affair,
not only on the side of health, but in teach
ing self-control, unselfishness, admiration
for others, perseverance and other virtues.
In the schoolrooms physical exercises are
less neglected, rest periods more frequent;
in the primary school games are not I'M
known, and children no longer walk on tip
toe. The quietest school is not necessarily
considered the best school, More attention
is paid to the value of fresh air. to good
conditions of light and to seats that fit.
Il am glad that the board has provided a
gymnasium in each of the high schools and
in the buildings it is now erecting at Irving
ton and North Indianapolis. The expense
for the gymnasium in the district schools is
small for they are a part OF the regular as
sembly hall and therefore separate rooms
for gymnasium purposes are not needed.
The value of gymnasiums in promoting the
health of children cannot be estimated
1.-The proper use of gymnasium requires
| the services of teacher who is equipped
| by training and experience TO teach children
to use it wisely and inteligently, to use it
so that the maximum good may result"
In connection with the above, condemna-
| ton proceedings were ordered for the prop
| erty adjoining school No. at the corner
of Michigan and Blackford streets, TO en-
/ large the area of the play ground at this
school.
Mrs. Edgar ]. Foster. Mrs. B. Kappa
port and Mrs. w. j. Barnes appeared be-
| fore the board Of school commissioners
| last night in behalf of the Women's COun-
| Gil urging the adoption of their resolution,
which condemns the taking of subscrip-
| tons, the sale of tickets, the holding of
| fairs and similar actions in the public
| schools. The matter was referred to Su-
| perintendent Kendall to take such action
as he deemed best TO the end of minimiz-
| ing such conditions as much as possible.
1t was brought to the knowledge of the
| school board that prize of $25 was being
| offered to the pupil from Manual Train
| ing School who would produce the best
| design for a bronze statue to be placed at
| the new Technical Institute, and the board
| was asked to appoint committee of three
| 10 serve as judges in the contest
John NJ. Coulter, of the University of
| Chicago, and DR.. Charles a. Dabney, of
| Knoxville, Tenn. recently elected to the
| presidency of the University of Cincinnati,
will be asked by the board to deliver COM
mencement addresses at Shortridge and
Manual Training schools.
Other business transacted by the board
| last night was TO allow bills of $11 1861,
an appropriation of $1,000 to the repair
| fund.- and the christening of school No.
| A. at North Indianapolis, the George w.
| Slogan school.