The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-02-18
PHYSICAL TRAINING.

Editorial by TeacherD
In the teaching OF any subject the
first thina to be done is to find Il
, reason and purpose in teaching
thar subject, The aim Of gymnastics.
primarily, is health, and to develop
elasticity of muscle rather than bulk
Of same. In the words OF Baron
Nils Posse. THE aim of educational
gymnastics is to develop the body in
to harmonious whole under the
perfect control of the will. 1t is moi
TO produce bulk of muscle. but to
cause that already present to re
spond readily to voitiOn. to improve
the functional activity to the body;
and to counteract and correct tend
encies to abnormal development"
Any medicine or preventive must
be taken at regular periods and in
correct doses and 10 he developing.
gymnastics must he taken systemati-
cally, at regular intervals. in correct
doses" and with some regard to
progression.
The physical training work in the
school of this city is retarded some
what by the fact that there is very
little, if any apparatus. Nevertheless
there are so many free standing eX-
erCises that are of fundamental good
and importance to the children. and
such exercises are being given them
If each child can be impressed with
the Importance and the wonderful
good derived from we'll executed gym.
nastic movement, he will be given a
key to perfect health.
The exercise should not flavor too
strongly of the circus, or of the dane
ing school. or of the barracks. but
they should contain some of the good
characteristics of each.
There are three phases to be devel-
oped in every child-the mental, the
moral. and the physical In the past
the first mentioned has reached the
greatest stage of development, but to
the almost total neglect of the other
two. In the past ten years ciyilizl-
ton has awakened to the fact that
the cild needs development the long
other two lines and special stress is
nov being laid upon physical train
ing.
The playground is not only
means of physical training TO the
child, but ii also combines moral
training. and it is one of the great
est developers of good citizenship,
which. after all, is the final goal of
education.
Tho story Of the playground move
men; IN tbs country sounds like a
fairy tale. From the way Fairgrounds
have sprung up all over the coun-
try, il seems as though
fairy's wand has been waved.
and the result is all that is visible
to us.
Surely there can come to no boy
or girl better opportunity for ac-
quiring the power of controlling the
will. than IN ne games PLAYED ON the
playground. In these games child
is led to choose between fair and M
fair measures and the choice he
makes means more than a mere
knowledge of riGht and wrong. H.
is developin" the power and the hahir
of acting on that knowledge and
thereby is forming strong charac.
ter
II a love Of fair play. and a sense
of real moral values. can be devt op-
ed in our boys and girls it will mean
a great uplft to the community
Tell me what YOUR boy plays and
will tell you his character" IS mc.e
than a mere saying and "red hiood
corpuscles are the sweet founchrons
q fSucCess." And bear this in mind
that no matter how much SOM poo-
pie may claim that children do na:
need to he taught 10 play and exer-
else. they do need TO he directed and
the future prosperity and happiness
OF this republic is being assn od on
the municiu"' Fairgrounds of odsy."