The San Francisco call., 1910-12-10
EDUCATORS ADMIT
PUPILS DEFECTIVE
Oakland and Berkeley AuthOri-
ties Agree With Professor
Walter Magee

OAKLAND. Dec. 9.-Prof. Walter
Msgee of the University Of California
has struck q true chord in the opin-
ions OF educators Of the east side cities
by his comments on the need Of proper
physical training of youths in the
schools. That corrective methods to
meet the conditions are necessary is
the unanimous belief Of school Off
Gals, instructors and others identified
with educational work
According TO prominent teachers, the
statistical statements OF the university
man as 70 physical deficiencies are
borne out by examinations in the pre-
paratory schools. That scientific gym
nasium work is needed in the improve
ment OF pupils physiques is conceded
by not e few instructors and medical
men who have studied the situation.
Various causes are set forth as re-
sponsible for the conditions in the fol-
lowing interviews:
Miss E. Z. Nichols, physical Instructor
Of the girls Of the Oakland high
schools, q student Of physical culture
engaged in introducing folk dancing in
the schools. said Every girl that
comes to me from the grammar schools
has curvature of the spine to some eX-
tent There is the lateral curvature
which comes from standing on one foot
and the anterior and posterior curva-
ture caused by tat chests and the
throwing Of the hips forward.
AT a formative age girls should be
given z, systematic training and should
be taught the habits Of retaining good
health. The teachers in the grammar
schools do not understand this portion
Of their work as they should, and
believe that regular physical instruct
ors should be employed and every girl
given at least the groundwork Of train
ing for correct standing and correct
breathing
Il believe girls should be given in
struction in physical culture during
the entire four years Of their high
school course instead Of for one year,
is the custom
MENTALITY AFFECTED
VIII C. Wood. superintendent of the
Alameda schools, said: out OF S2l stu
dents examined in November by Hy-
giene Instructor Samuel r. Downing
Of our school department 240 were
found 10 have some physical defects.
These defects were mostly Of the eyes,
ears. nose and throat That these
physical disabilities affect the mental
condition Of the child goes without
saying An appointed committee is
working in this city to establish
gymnasium for the girls and boys. and
the board Of education expects TO OBJ
tain the permission of the city council
10 call for a. bond issue very soon IN
order 10 build q. large gymnasium.
The girls OF the city need physical
culture work more than the boys L
FULLY agree with Professor Magees and
I an glad that the American people
are waking up to the fact that care
should be taken OF the bodies as we'll
as Of the minds
DR.. william T. Lum. a member Of the
Alameda board Of education. declared;
Fifty per cent Of the children / eX-
anime are affected with curvature OF
the spine. / consider Professor Ma
gees remarks on this matter very con-
servative and / believe that he has hit
The note just about right The high
heel shoes worn by girls are respon-
sibIe for the defects. They throw the
body out Of equilibrium Abnormal
postures, such as leaning over desks
81 school and sitting in seats either too
low or too high. cause many Of the
physical defects found in children and
which could be cured or remedied by
physical culture training
CHILDREN UNDEVELOPED
George C. Thompson, principal of the
Alameda high school, said: I heartily
approve Of physical training for girls
and boys I do not believe that Pro-
fessor Magee's remarks are eXagger-
ated. A large percent Of the students
developed
DR.. W. O. Smith of Alameda said:
There is no doubt that the modern
dress and shoes with high heels are
productive Of curvature Of the spine
and other diseases. We need ra-
tional dress for women. know for
fact thar the present mode Of dress is
conducive to defects that are hard to
remedy. High heels do not only pro-
duce curvature of the spine. but alb
6omfnal and other troubles. The wear
ing Of corsets by schoolgirls shoulo De
fs sbooed by the boards of education
The present mode of dress is mostly
-re faulr Of the mothers of daughters"
DIR. A A Stafford of Alameda de-
~lared. There is a large percentage
Of girls in this city, as well as In
others. who have crooked spines. This
a due 10 the position in which they SIT
In school and the manner in which they
dress. using corsets ana hlsn HeeIeu
shoes The spine relies so much on the
corset that when the support is taken
awsv II is weak. Gymnastlc work
would do much to correct this and 1t
should be done under proper super
vision
Berkeley high school, said that the in
ference 10 be drawn from the remarks
~ Professor Magee was that corrective
work in this direction should be start
% early in life; in fact, he said, before
the high school years.
Desks at Fault
Editor Of The Call: IN your issue
OF December s appears an article in
which Professor Magee's statement is
quoted. that 20 in 100 young women
vvbo enter the University Of California
have curvature Of the spine. and 20
r,er cent have fat feet" Doctor Gould
~ Philadelphia gives a larger per-
centage in many eastern schools. 1t
is well for US 10 inquire into the
,,st,ee Of such an alarming condition.
have found spinal curvature in the
sDrsmuar school. A tall girl sitting in
: smeu seat, with the desk fat and
+oo close TO her body, sits turned to
me left. usually 70 accommodate her
positfon in writing, rotating her spine
several hours daily; instead Of sitting
well upright she slips down in her
small seat. hump shouldered, daily
growing into a shape to fit that III
adjusted desk
63vnnnasiums are much needed. but