The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-11
COUNCIL ID MAKE $35O,OOO AVAILABLE Big Era 0awning For Birmlng- han1'S Public Schools PHYSICAL CULTURE PLANS President Parker Thinks New System Will Mean Much for the Health
 of Future Citizens of
 Birmingham.
PHYSICAL CULTURE PLANS

At the next meeting of the council. stat ed John L. Parker, president of the Board of Education, yesterday, a resolution will be introduced and passed, in all prob ability, asking for bids on the sS50' '0OO bond issue that was recently authorized for school improvements in an election before the people.
 MT. Parker stated that as soon as this money was available, work on the ims provement of the schools would be com menced The following will be accomp- lished:
 The Ullman school will be increased by 10 rooms. the Lalzeview school by 10, the South Highlands school by F, the Martin school by 10, and the Barker school by lO
 These additions will equip each of these buildings for the accommodation of the seven grades which make up the standard city public school
 These additions will relieve the pressure which is now borne by the Paul Hayne school The Paul Hayne will be increased by 20 rooms and will be known as the high school of the Southside. Another high school, on equality with the one that now exists, is deemed necessary on ac- count of the fact that the present high school with it's 300 students, is taxed to it's utmost
 MT. Parker stated, too, that a new school for East Birmingham, consisting of 20 rooms, was an absolute necessity, and that this building would be erected as soon as the funds were available.
 In addition to all the above, the other school buildings of the city will be re paired, and added to from time to time.
 "A school era Is dawning in Birming- ham," stated President Parker yesterday, to, xx-la 1a1 hn GOO coming from the sale of the bonds and carried out the other plans thats-haye been agreed upon, no southern city will be better equipped in the manner of in stitutons for sthe education of the chill dren than the Magic City.
 "As Is known through the recent pub licaton in The Age-Herald, the training of the physical man is intended. We will procure the services of an expert in this line. He must be qualified to teach the children how to take care of their bodies and health and must be able also to im- part the principles of hygiene.
 By the plan, as soon as a student enters the first grade, he will be exam ined. The director will be able to tell just what he needs, and just what he doesn't need This pupil will be cared for until he reaches the high school. When he enrolls himself there the director will give him the exercise that is needed to guarantee the fullest development In other words, if a pupils lungs are weak he will be given the exercise that tends to strengthen them. If his heart Is weak his heart will be watched closely, and no exercise will be permitted that will endanger his life and his health.
 ''The school board, in other words, real izes that to work only on a persons s mind to the detriment of his body avaiis very little. When the physical course be- comes effective, student on graduation will be able to present a history of him- self as concerns his mind, his body and his morals. The physical director is a certainty although, of course, the system may not be introduced before next fall.
 q have noticed that Dr. O'Hanlop of New York has introduced in the leg1sla- ture of that state a bill providing for a compulsory course in boxing for the pub lie schools. Dr O'Hanlon rightly takes the ground that such exercise will cause deep breathing, and will prevent tubercu- losis. The scheme is an excellent one, but 1t seems to me that we have gone the New Yorker one better"