The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-13

Of marches. drills and games which
time and use have proven to be of
some peculiar benefit to the physical
growth of the child.
First Grade Work.
The first grade has a very simple
little drill. performed with two flags
In the school cOlors in which only ele-
mentary movements are concerned.
of the movements commonly used in
sending messages by the wig-wag code.
Its aim is coordination.
In Second Grade.
The second grade work consists of
hoop drill made up of seven exer-
cises copied somewhat after drill
for women by Anderson" 1t con-
sists Of movements which bring every
muscle of the body into action and call
for a certain amount of grace in move
ment.
Music in Third Grade.
The third grade work is a drill made
up of 8 free-hand, setting up exercises
which is done to music and therefore
cultivates sense of rhythm. The
movements start out very simply with
breathing exercises and wind up with
set in which every muscle in the
body is used.
Folk Dance in the Fourth.
The work of the fourth grade is a
Swedish folk game, "Varfa Vadinal,
introduced into this country by Jacob
BOlin, q pioneer In physical training
work in the United States who did
work in the schools of New York and
Columbia university. This game is
merry and vigorous and develops a
certain amount of grace.
Fifth Grade Military Steps.
The fifth grade works at marching
steps and military formations formu-
lated somewhat after the commands
and maneuvers used in the United
States army and military schools. The
idea is to train the mind to take In
command quickly and the body to
speedily and precisely answer to the
control of the mind.
Wand Drill in Sixth.
The wand drill used by the sixth
grade is patterned closely after the
| set of exercises decided by the army
board to be the best for general exer-
else purposed for use in the u. S. army.
1t was designed by Major Butts and Is
known as Butts Manual"
Seventh Grade Hand Exercises.
The seventh grade is doing a series
Of free-hand exercises to music de-
signed to develop every muscle In the
body and to produce good posture,
grace, poise and sense OF rhythm.
Indian Club Drill.
! The eighth grade is swinging Indian
clubs in a 1 club drill made up OF the
more helpful and less fancy and intr1-
cate movements. However. some OF
| the movements are intricate enough 70
be interesting and the drill Is very
pretty when done by class OF 40 or
| so pupils
Besides the regular school work, the
girls in groups and clubs are taking
| up folk dancing in the various schools.
All are learning the od-fashioned
English Maypole dance and some are
taking up the dances OF dtnerent ma
tions such as the Highland Fling, the
Irish Jig, the Italian Tarantella, Swed-
ish Bliking, English Hornpipe, etc.
The boys of several different schools
have organized themselves into gym
nastic clubs. and these meet at the
school building one evening week to
do pyramid work, tumbling, etc. The
high school boys will take up the
Italian naval pole drill, tumbling and
apparatus work.
A Definite Aim.
The work for the different grades
is designed to be difficult enough to
hold the interest of the children. The
work is adapted from what is cOnsid-
cred to be the best in physical train
ing work after six years of study and
experience and adopted with the con-
victiOn that after a child has passed
through the grades of physical train
ing work-graded just as carefully az
reading and arithmetic, with the
knowledge of what a child may and
can safely do along these lines-he
will come out of school strong, self
reliant. we'll developed, cool of head
and quick of hand.
Athletic Contests.
In arranging the grade school ath-
letic program the beginning of the
year the city was divided into four
sections for the purpose Of athletic
contests. the champions from each
section playing for the final city
championship. In the fall the older
boys will play football, the younger
boys soccer and the girls forward
pass ball. game in which alertness
speed and skill are at a premium and
brute strength or roughness of no
avail, as it is a foul to even touch
an opponent. In the winter basket
ball will be played by both boys and
girls. under different rules, in the
new gymnasium. In the spring the
boys will play baseball ard the girls
ground ball. Beside awards for the
championship in these liEes of sport,
medals and pins are given to those
who put up the best game during the
season in each line Of sport, to en-
courage individual proves. Banners
are also awarded for school spirit and
good spOrtsmanship.
Group Atf.lctiCs.
Besides these lines or sport in which
only certain ones who can make the
teams take part, another line of sport
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