Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02
COLLEGE ATHLETICS


done to make gymnastics compulsory. Ad-
ditiopal interest was lent to the experiment
by the fact that Pennsylvania was the only
large university of the east that ever con-
Quoted such an experiment on so extensive
a scale. Some of the smaller colleges had
previously established compulsory gym
naSticS, but none of the big universities
with their thousands of Students had found
it practicable.
Some of the tests which the director, DR..
X. TAFT Mckenzie, made during the year
were of the greatest interest. Using LOCO
undergraduates for experimental purposes
he found that 594 of them had physical de-
fects of the kind which could be cured or
remedied by proper gymnastic exercise.
This number did not include those who had
defective eyesight which was about 80 per
cent of the entire student body. The de-
fects represented by the 594 included fiat
chests weak lungs, diseased hearts, uneven
shoulders. hernia and curvature of the
spine. OF these 1863 were found to have fiat
chests and uneven shoulders. Next came
PIT with fiat foot and 81 with curvature of
the spine.
the results were carefully tabulated and
filed away. there being separate cards for
every student. The undergraduates who
We're compelled to take the course were then
divided up into three classes, as follows:
1. Those who were found to be below the
normal. For these corrective exercises were
prescribed.
2 The average student who was Obliged
proper development of his body
j. The men who were on the various uni
Versity athletic teams and whose work was
accepted as an equivalent for gymnastic
work during the time they were in training
After the students had pursued their pre-
scribed courses for a definite length of time
they were re-examined to note the effects
OF the course. and to what extent 1t had
corrected their particular defects. With
hardly an exception Dr. Mckenzie found
that the effects had been most marked.
What we noted most particularly" said
Or. Mckenzie, was the great increase in
strength and the knowledge of how to en-
ploy it. For instance many of the stud
ents when they came to us, were unable
to lift their own weight and had great diff
hculty In jumping over an obstacle such as
hurdle. This was remedied in a very
short time and before three months there
was hardly a student in the course who
could not raise his own weight, by Ginning
or by climbing ladder rope hand over
hand"
Not only was there a most marked i'm
provement in the development of the STU
dents taking the course. but many cases of
hereditary weakness were cured OF more
Importance yet, many students were pre-
vented from participation In athletics upon
discovery through the physical examina-
ton that they were physically unfit for the
strain of competition. Thus some of the
students were found to have weak or dis
abled hearts to which athletic competition
would have had fatal results All stu
dents who were found to be thus defective
were prohibited from participation in ath-
letics at least until they had -overcame
the weakness which In some cases was pos
sibie through the prescribed exercises
One of the novel features of the course
next year will be special course for the
| instruction of young men who desire to
qualify for the position Of physical train
ers According to DR.. Mckenzie, he has
had great many demands for young men
VINO can combine knowledge of athletics
and anatomy, TO take such positions in
high schools, academies and colleges There
have already been great many applicants
Tor the new course, among them being
many who wish to prepare for the profess
sion of teaching and desire a knowledge of
physical instruction well. This course
Is to extend over two years.
DIR. Mckenzie has also decided to expand
| the course for the entire student body This
| VIII be done by making the course obliga-
| tory on more students. including all of those
| in the college and medical school, and a
majority of those in the other professional
departments. The course is likewise to be
4 made a four-year, progressive course from
which great results are expected.