Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-03-07

der, then, that many bright city boys
become listless, nervous and inatten-
tive in the school room and incapable
of doing the mental work demanded
of them, and often acquire distaste
for their school work? A sound mind
can dwell only in sound body, and
why, therefore, not utilize the instinct
of play in young people for the har-
monious development Of their bodies?
Then their minds would become
Strengthened, wide-awake and active,
hence capable of doing much harder
work in the school room. There
should be good, strong courses of
study in the high schools and no re
taxation is favored in that respect,
but the conditions under which the
young people work, both in the school
room and outside of it, should be such
that they may be able to put forth
their best efforts. Athletics in many
city schools are sadly neglected or
else carried on in way to benefit
those who need it least, while the
weak Or less active who need the
stimulus of exercise most, frequently
take no part.
In the early fall and late spring,
when the weather has moderated and
the days are longer, boys and girls
can spend more time out of doors and
will then generally of their own accord
take all the exercise their bodies re-
quire, and this criticism does not then
apply with the same force as during
the four winter months.
The country boys and girls who
have to walk mile or two to and
from school in the morning, generally
get all the exercise they need, and
sometimes too much, but they are the
ones who develop strong, robust bod
les, and when they do come to town
to attend school they generally out
distance the town boys and girls. In
many city homes there are no chores
to do, and if there are, they frequent
ly are of such nature that they do
not interest the young folks. A boy
who has fine team of horses he calls
his own to take care of, enjoys that
task. There is more suitable work
for girls than for boys in nearly all
city homes.
! When young people awaken into
self-consciousness, about the first
thing they notice is that their bodies
are growing, developing. What young
boy has not gone to his father and
asked him to feel his muscles, to see
how big and strong they have grown
Or to measure and compare his growth
in stature with the father or some
other member of the family. Girls
also, take cognizance of how fast they
grow and view with amazement an(
satisfaction their metamOrphosis from
short to long dresses. The schools
should recognize the phenomena Of
physical growth as we'll as nlenta
and moral growth and train up a har
1nonious, well-balanced human being
Not all that is necessary toward Thu
end can be done in the schools, but :
great deal more can be done than il
now attempted. If young people wer.
trained to walk, sit, and breathe pro
perly, something worth while woult
be accomplished. Let there be NOR,
joyful, healthful, exhilerating and wise
ly directed play in the school room
and outside of it, and the young folk
will take more interest in and gail
greater efficiency in their regular stu
dies. The boys will not take the frs
opportunity to leave school if thei
physical needs are properly supplied
The Sheaf commends the thought
contained in this article to the careful
consideration of the Superintendent
and Members of the Board of Educa
ton of the Warren schools, to the en-,
that the conditions under which tn
pupils are compelled to work may b,
made more tolerable and their physica
training given the attention it de
serves.
This brings us to the question O
providing properly-equipped gymna
Sums for the physical training of tn
boys and girls of the cities. Ever
town ought to have one or more suc]
places where the young may congre
gate for the purpose of developing
themselves physically and socially
Then there would be no excuse 70