New Ulm review., 1912-12-04
Prof. Heman Helm Talks Instruct.
On Physical Training


the meeting of the Cong. Mems Club
last week. ..
1--WE find a great diversity OF opin-
ion on this subject. Some say that
school gymnastics ought to consist
simply of games, while those who go
farthest in their demands, cite the re-
nowned psychologist, Prof Virchow,
who says, 1T is my belief that only
one-half of the school hours should be
devoted to study and the rest to ply
sical training and games,' and others
declare that, It is necessary to lift
all physical training, or whatever goes
by that name at present in many of
our school systems from its present
inferior position to higher level, and
place it on a sound foundation as a
truly educational department.
"These latter claim that the first
and foremost requirement of any sys-
tenn of physical training for the public
schools is, that it has for it's object
the harmonious development of the
child's body according to well defined
physiological, psychological, and peda-
gogical laws.
ITO arrive at correct solution of
the problem what the objects of school
gymnastics must be, it becomes nec-
essary to inquire, first: what are the
conditions of modern school life,
which must be taken into considera-
ton when choosing exercises, and Sec
ond, what are the physiological de-
mands of child between the ages of
and IL as to its growth and develop
ment
"Up, to- it's entrance into school a
child has led a comparatively free
life. In general, it has moved about
wherever it pleased, sang, played, and
ran. It was out of doors, in the sun
shine and fresh air, most of the time.
With it's entrance into scnool all
changed. It now must remain in a
closed room five hours day. The
school requires that it be quiet. The
demands of writing, ciphering, draw
ing, sewing, etc., keep the child in un-
natural positions for hours. Its time
for play is greatly restricted, and the
lungs instead of developing and ex-
panding, suffer because of the child's
long sitting. Heart and circulation
also suffer from loss of action. Then
the air in most schoOlrooms is I'm
-Snre, The eyes often suffer from poor
light, too much work, Or incorrect
seating. The desks and benches are
often ill-ftted. In short we find that
school life gives the child conditions
which are radically opposed to those
needed for it's bodily development.
Modern physiology tells us that
the necessity Of muscular exercise be-
comes greater the more the demands
for mental Development grow, and the
more artificial the lives of city chill
'dren become. But the modern school
does not recognize this, The school
work itself if Of a more intense char
acter, all leading away from muscular
work.
~ :"''gAe: life of a normally developed
child is one of continual activity, dur
ing all it's waking hours. 1t seldom is
quiet for any length of time, and many
a teacher has found one of her hardest
problems a boy, or girl, so full of vi
tality that he cannot be quiet for a
minute. Yet school life asks that
this child remain quiet for hours. We
are not only supposed to suppress that
activity which is an integral part of
the life of every normally developed
-.child, but we are also asking the child
to pay close attention to processes
which develop the mind.
eve will now ask what does physi,
olOgy teach us is going on in the bod
les of our pupils during the first eight
school-years? Children enter the first
grade at about six years and leave
the grammar schools at about fourteen
years Of age. During the first three
years the child accustoms itself to the
physical conditions of school life. A
great development of bones, especially
of the head, takes place. The next
years, that is up to the beginning o.
puberty, bring about Strengthening
Of the skeletal frame and the muscles
continue to grow more enduring.
IF we now remember that every or
gan will reach it's highest develop
ment, if it receives its proper exer
else at the time of it's creates
growth, these Investigations have Civ
en- US a guide to lead us in the selec
ton of exercises that are of the great
est value at certain periods of a child!
life. They show us that during child
hood the heart is comparativel.
small and the arteries wide; that ;
rapidly working heart finds little re
sistance and can send the bloot
quickly through the whole body. TIL,
normal development of the heart dur
ing the period of it's greatest growtl
is of prime Importance for the main
tenance of health, as we'll as TO
gaining and preserving the creates
bodily power and resistance T.
choose exercises that promote hear
growth must, at this period of
child's life, be one of our chief aims
Next in Importance is the develop
ment Of the lungs. Experiments hav
proved that only about one-sixth q
the air in our lungs is changed dul
ing ordinary breathing: When grea
est inhalation and exhalation tax
Mace this amount is incraa sod To