The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-09-02
PHYSICAL CULTURE IN SCHOOLS

luC puUlAC CVAOoA3 Va &AJ OeAASA 49,
stitution, which has for its aims the
education of young people that fails
to provide instruction in physical cul-
ture is far from meeting the needs
Of the times.
The. boy or girl who comes into
the world deficient in physical make
up, or, If not naturally deficient,
whose manner of living tends to
check or hamper his bodily develop
ment can scarcely receive greater
service at the hands OF the school
curriculum than to be set right in
this important particular.
Furthermore, the young man or
woman who enters upon the duties of
life in this age of the world, lacking
| in physical stamina, or lacking in
knowledge of the essential laws that
govern his or her physical being is
getting started with a handicap that
is likely to prove serious.
That there is woeful deficiency in
| this vital thing can be seen by even
casual observer of the young people
of our country. Take the pupils OF
the schools for example, and the more
| advanced pupils or students, if that
term be preferred, of the colleges and
| universities, in how many of them
does one find the ideal physique or
anything approaching it?
On the contrary one will not fail to
see reminders, innumerable, and pain
! full ones too, that health laws are
either little understood, or, If under
stood, are regarded apparently, at
least, with amazing Indifference.
How few have clear, healthy look
| ing compleXions; who stand or sit
erect; who walk with grace and dig
nifty and with good bearing; who
| know how to take a full deep breath;
how comparatively few have perfect
eyes, and hearing, well developed
chests and strong lungs and whose
vocal chords are properly trained.
| How many young peope have even a
fairly good knowledge of hygiene, OF
balanced rations," and of the i'm
potance of bathing, cleanliness, regu-
lar sleep and systematic bodily ex-
ercise.
How many boys really comprehend
or have interest enough in their well
being to learn how they are handi-
Gaping their bodies as we'll as intel
lects and strongly discounting their
chances for success by becoming
slaves to intoxicants and the tobacco
habit and especially to that form
which places them in the ranks of
the victims of the cigarette?
To be sure considerable of this in
formation is found in the text books
and is taught, more or less, in per-
functory way; but in few, very few
of the public schools of the country
is it given anything like the promin-
enee it deserves.
Physical culture with the right in
structor, means more than the gym
nasium; more than a knowledge of
physical strength. 1t means cleanli-
ness of mind, as well as cleanliness
and strength of body 1t has whole
ONE psychological bearing that is
now recognized by educators and
scientists, and has so many things to
commend it that, as already stated,
no school making claims to progress
siveness will be without its depart
ment of physical culture.
We are glad to see the Normal
schools, state university and other
educational institutions in line with
the present day demands for such
instruction, and we hope that trustees
and teachers in the public schools OF
our state will use their efforts in that
direction
Some are moving in that matter
and are making provision for domest-
ic science. SO called, and manual
training courses. These are good,
but We need the physical culture in
it's best form, in every school, and
patrons, teachers and school directors
should be satisfied with nothing less.
Every school would not be able to
fully equip itself at once with the
necessary appointments for such a
course, but all should plan for it and
start at the earliest possible time.
Caldwell, with her new school
buildings, and with her ambitions to
become an educational center, should
not be behind in these things that
make for better equipped young peo-
pie, and therefore better citizenship.
Both her College of Idaho and the
public schools should set the proper
pace.