The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-10-07
the two upper classes of the Sargen

School. These girls, prospective teach
ers, are all over eighteen years of age,
and average about twenty years. During
July and August, while the school is hav-
ing its vacation, the camp is opened as a
conventional girls camp for girls of from
Though these latter girls are not study
ing to be teachers, belonging as they do
rather to what may be termed the $50
ciety type nevertheless, they not only
respond quite as readily to the call of the
open as do their professional sisters, but
are not backward in embracing the un-
usual opportunities to perfect themselves
in outdoor sports.
The writer feels that too much cannot
be said in regard to DR.. Sargent's con-
tribution to the development of physical
education for women. More than any
other man in this country he has enabled
girls to enjoy the same physical exercise
and to attain the same physical develop
ment as was for ages the exclusive priv
lege of their brothers. The resultant
health, strength and buoyancy of spirits,
are perhaps best seen at the exhibition
of gymnastics held by the Sarg ent School
each spring in the Boston Arena Of
these exhibitions the writer has been an
interested spectator for several years,
and the following summary of their aims
and scope, gathered from personal obser-
walton and from talking with DR.. Sargent
and his assistants, may not be out of
place here.
The exhibition itself covers two gen
eral purposes: first, it offers an oppor-
tunity to present before large and en-
thusiastic audience various phases of the
gymnastic activities of the pupils; and
second, it furnishes eliminating point,
we may say, of certain aspects of the
work-this being particularly true of the
competitive feature and those numbers
in which individual skill and ingenuity
are displayed. The beauty and value of
most of the work, however, depends
upon its mass effect; the unity, response
and cooperation developed through many
hours of faithful practice, the rhythm
and grace attained only by constant at
tention to the details of muscular co-or-
dlnation, poise, musical time and accent.
Naturally, the increase in individual en-
durance and vigor, as we'll as in direct
proficiency in gymnastic ability, cannot
be estimated by the on-loOker, except in
general terms of admiration for the glow
ing health and vitality and the steady
accuracy of the girls as they march, play
typical ''recess games" dance or per-
form other group work. The more spec
tacular parts OF the program, such as
the apparatus work, high vaulting and
swinging competitions, and the remark
able wallscaling, permit the girls who
are especially adapted for such vigorous
exercise to shine. 1t should be remem-
bered, however, that much of this work
is required Of all the girls on account of
its valuable training In strength, courage
and agility, and because of its necessary
part In their equipment as teachers.
We have, then, before US as an object
of gymnastic training, the development
of the Individual girl-first, for her own
sake, that she may gain in bodily
strength, in quickness Of perception, in
accuracy, grace and muscular control;
and, second, to train her through games,
group work, and concerted action to
realize the necessity of cooperation, con-
formity to regulations, and the depend
ence of success upon the unselfish en-
deavor of each individual,
And third, as normal school, the aim
is to fit the girl to go out and teach her
chosen branch of work with as full an ap-
probation of its significance as the three
years course can give her. AS in the prep
aration for other professional work, the
range of subjects with which the teacher
of physical training must at least be in
touch seems constantly widening, so
+, that a progressive curriculum and one
that allows of some degree of choice
seems necessary. A brief recital of
some of the positions filled by the Sar-
gent graduates will give an idea of the
diversity of the training which would be
required were each student to special
ize in the phase of the work she takes
up. Among these school work, elemen-
tary, high, private, normal and college,
claims the majority of the girls; while in
addition Fairgrounds and other recrea-
tive activities, summer camps, dancing
classes, Young Women's Christian AS
sociation and Settlement work, and last
ly corrective work" as assistants to
orthopedic surgeons or in hospitals, are
all important fields of labor for the ply
steal trainer. For this reason opportun-
ity must be given to the students not
only to be grounded in the subjects
which make up the physical side Of the
work, but also to gain an insight into
the educational and social value of their
future careers. Thus the development
of character and personality is often
very pronounced among students of Sc
4 rious intent, while even the most unori-
ginal, and are there not some in every