The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-09
A NEGLECTED PROBLEM.

If the introduction of military drill In public
schools accomplishes nothing else, it will help
to fill conspicuous gap in the physical culture
work of the educational institutions. All the
energies Of physical directors are usually be-
slowed upon the training and coaching OF
teams composed of boys naturally inclined to
athletics In all schools and colleges the boys
and young men who most need exercise get the
least Of it. If boy is already good baseball
player or has evident promise as a track ath-
lete, ample encouragement is given him to i'm
prove, in order that the institution may win
games from it's opponents. But if he is under
sized, undeveloped, inactive, nobody seems to
care, to interest him in the normal, healthful
play which his comrades find Inherently attrac-
tice. 1t is a very narrow view OF the problem
of public health and human efficiency that ig
nores this class of boys, which includes per-
haps fourth or third Of the whole number.
Military drill, since it does not demand ex-
ceptional muscular skill or agility, is particu-
larly we'll adapted to give healthful exercise to
the less athletic type of boy, putting him side
by side with his more muscular companions
whom he can soon learn to equal or to sur
pass. The upright carriage of the body, the
firm and accurate muscular control developed
by the manual Of arms, the brisk, regular pace
of marching column are all possible to boys
who can never hope to make creditable show
ing on the playground. 1t is we'll to remember
that some Of most distinguished men in
history have begun life as weaklings, and that
we never know what neglected, hollow chested
youngsters in the school may turn out to be d
leader in later life-handicapped, perhaps, by
impaired health which it was the business Of
the school to improve.
Apart from military drill, there are other
methods by which the physical directors Of
schools and colleges might do more than they
do to raise the general average Of physical eff
cheney. One OF them, which has been largely
successful in some cities, is the extension of the
system of group competition already familiar
in the relay races and the tug of war When all
the pupils in group, weak and strong togeth-
er, are expected to enter each event, and the
competition is decided by the total number of
points won by one side or the other, a strong in
centive for improvement is at once offered to
those who are below the average If the com
peting groups are so balanced by competent
leader that no evident advantage lies with eth
er side at the beginning of the season, marked
Improvement should follow, provided reason
able encouragement and instruction are given
to those who need them most
cash paid for old discarded false teeth, -
says advertisement It seems a man may
wear again, and all mconsciously, the very
teeth with which his great grandsire bit the
dust at Bunker hill Here's chance for the
sentimental song writer: go, sheriff, do not
take the teeth that grandpa willed to me!''
1t is sturdy and unusually bold worry that
does not stink off and lose itself when faced by
strong will and fixed determination to be
cheerful.
Those who are addicted to May walking
should be careful not to leave their rubbers at
home.