The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-06-14
Physical Director Horton Ad-
vises the School Board
That Such a Course Would
Be Beneficial.
1T WOULD IMPROVE
HEALTH OF PUPILS
Horton Advises That the
Course Start with Children
in kindergarten Grades
Outlines Plans.

Whether or not to introduce dancing
in the curriculum of the public schools
by celebrating on the physical culture
courses already installed in the high
school and Garfeld school, and the in
stallation of a course in a more modi-
fed form in the grade schools, will
be an important matter to be dis
cussed at the meeting of the school
board on Wednesday morning. The
proposal comes from R. J. Horton,
physical director of the Y NJ. C. A.
and instructor in the Garfield and
grade schools.
Briefly the recommendation as out
lined by Mr.. Horton is that a woman
dancing and physical culture instruc-
tor be employed to take charge of the
work for the girls in the Garfield and
high schools while he and his assist
ant, Mr.. Winjum, shall have charge of
the work as pertains to the boys of
these two schools, and all the pupils
in the grade schools. What the boards
official action will be is a matter of
conjecture, but from expressions
made by the members, the recon-
mendation apparently meets with
their approval
What Result Would Be.
Square shoulders, we'll developed
| ohov ofo
!istics of the healthy body will be the
results accruing from instruction
which brings every muscle into play
in the opinion of those agitating the
adoption of dancing in the schools
But in addition to the development OF
a better type of womanhood and man
hood, it is claimed the adoption of
such course will mean even more
that the capacity of the mind will be
developed in proportion to the body
development, and also give the public
complete knowledge of music and
lart.
The adoption of dancing into the
curriculum of the public schools by
the recommendation of Mr., Horton
does not mean that waltzes, two steps
J and other dances usually enjoyed at
social events will be taught. Instead
the folk dances, rarely seen or enjoy
ed in America, would be taught. Most
excellent examples of the folk dances
are those given by the troupe of Rus
; sian dancers with Pavlowa and Mord
kin, who were at the Gennett during
the past season. Some of these folk
dances are simple, others most siren
uous.
BY beginning with the children OF
the kindergarten age and each sue
ceeding year developing their under
standing of the folk dances until by
the time they have reached the high
school, they will be undertaking the
more difficult kinds, the course should
prove of a great deal of benefit, the
school authorities believe. Another
advantage in addition to the menta
and physical development, is thai
such a course would tend to make the
youths use their bodies gracefully an6
, obliterate that inherent clumsiness In
American children of certain ages.
In the Garfield and high schools fre
quent instructions by the instructors
would be given, but in the grade
schools the supervisors would giveon
ly occasional lessons, and the perfec
; ton attained by these pupils would
depend upon the teachers. The super
: visors would outline the work and the
teachers give frequent instructions te
perfect the different dances.