Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-04-20
Public Schools now Required TO
Teach Physical Training

~e(A nyoAC0A AE<AAAAh4
In order that an intelligent under
standing may be had of the Act recent
ly passed by the New jersey Ltgisla-
ture, which makes u course of Physical
Training a part OF the public education
Of The State, I shall give an outline of
the history. scope, and purpose of this
Act, with some reasons why this law
is of great economic and social value.
In the winter of 1915, because of the
utter lack of preparedness for defense
on the part of our Nation, I introduced
a bill in the Legislature, providing for
military training of High School Boys;
not with the idea that this training
would make soldiers, but would be a
step in the way OF preparedness. The
bill was not favorably received by the
Legislature; consequently, in 1916, the
bill was reintroduced In an amended
form, but, on account of the agitation
for a Federal system Of compulsory
training and service, the Legislature
again refused to pass the bill. feeling
that it was unwise to enact legislation Of
this sort until the Federal Government
had determined their policy in this mat
ter. A Commission was appointed to
investigate the subject, and submitted a
carefully prepared report to the last
Legislature, which, to my mind, proved
conclusively that the making of an eff
Gent soldier, or a valuable member of
society, must have its beginning with
the physical training of a child in his
early school days.
What the Law Provides
The Law, as it nov stands, was
drafted to conform with the findings of
the report, and provides for a through
going course of physical instruction and
training for all publish public schools.
The course is patterned largely after the
Swiss system, but revised to meet
American conditions. Such courses are
compulsory for all pupils, above kinder
garten age, who are physically fit.
The course is to be prepared and sup
ervised by the Commissioner of Educa-
ton and his assistants. The standing
of the pupil in this course is a requisite
to promotion and graduation.
The State Board of Education may
elect that the Physical Training Course
shall include formation and military
drill for the male pupils in the high
school, or, II the Board does notinclude
this feature al a part of the course, the
school district may by referendum vote,
include military drill as a feature of
physical training course for high school
boys. Where the military drill is made
a part of the physical training course,
the Drill Master must hold a certificate
from the Adjutsnt General as to his
fitness for such work. The matter of
equipment, uniforms, etc., together
with the salary o the Drill Instructor,
sre provided by school district In their
school budget.
Nothing could be farther from the
fact than the idea that this law is in
tended to make soldiers Of our High
School Boys. The only possible rela-
ton that this plan could have TO militar-
ism or soldiery, Is that the Board of
Education may elect to include military
and formation drill, as a part of the
prescribed Physical Training Course
for High School Boys.
Report as to Physical Training
The report of the Commission which
Investigated this subject quoted some
very interesting yet startling figures as
to the physical condition of those who
applied for enlistment in the US. Army
covering a period Of five years. These
statistics showed that only one in five
applicants was found to be physically
fit for Army service. The report gives
the Surgeon Generals opinion that
most of the defects were what could be
classed as "correctable" or at least "pre-
ventable had proper attention been
given TO the applicants physical condi-
ton in earlier years.
Reports Of college physicians and
medical inspectors of schools are cited
as showing that an alarming proportion
of those who attend our schools and
colleges have physical defects which
are durable, with proper supervision
and training. From those who have
made a careful study of this subject,