The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-09
RAD|CA| CHANGES IN SCHOOL |
RECREATION NOW ADVOCATED

SDccial dispatch 10 The lntcllls"h'cr'
MOKGANTOWN, w. Va. July b
Radical changes in the present s'h"o'
system Of West Virginia To give more
time for properly supervised play a'hohe
all tho bows apd girls rather than among
Inc t,surl limited number Of athletes -
urged hv pr Henry S Curtis, IN" lead
ing authority Of the country on tn" part
taken by play in education. who lcctur'u
10 tho University Summer School mere
this week.
Tho present system only offers inc
play and It's attendant exercise" through
intrr-sChooi competition. To a Compa'a-
lively small group Of students. when
number Is generally among those ot pest
health and sturdicSt physique. VINO CYL
IDENTIFY did not need special devclopnen''
while IN" children who arc less Strong
and pcrhaps undevclopcd are not hcne-
fitted in the same way. Tn" eyes OF
several teachers were opened to- tn" I'M
portancc Of play as shown in l'r. 'ur-
tis's talks, in which he made the lolIo"-
ing rccomm" ndations:
That city .chools b" required by law
to have ut least q block Of ground. with
SIX acres for each high school and from
TWO TO five acres for each Nral school.
At present. records show that the coun-
try schools average less Than one acre
in IS per cent Of tho cases.
That two hours a day be required by
law to be devoted To supervised play III
the lower grades of schools and one
hour 4 day through the elementary
schools and high schools.
That schools furnish necessary equip
mont
That proper supervision he given.
That games be arranged 10 suit the
school and the pupil.
Or. Curtis showed that tho proper
combination of play and cxcrCiS" Is Just
Hs important for girls a. for boys. Up
until ten years Of az" girls usually out
run the bows. Tho best game for the
playground Is rnlloyhall. with basket
ball, indoor baseball. tennis and baseball
next in order. 4 running track. jump
ing pit. pole vault. baseball diamond.
football field and tennis court were de-
ClarCd necessity.
1t was d"monstrat cd that children
need play before they reach the high
school age. which is the earliest period
in which organized games are given in
most West Virginia schools. The most
important period in child Mfc is from (
to years. at which time tho desire for
being in motion almost constantly is
strongest P"domctcrs placed on chill
drcn that aGo Indicated that thoy walk
cd an average of ten miles day, which
these same children averaged only seven
miles when placed in school. The three
miles cut off by school must b" made
up by play during tho school period.
said Dr. Curtis. The health Of children
IS largely determined by tho carly life
and attention was called TO the import
ant factor Of mothers nursing their chill
dren rs we'll as Of keeping the children
at proper play so as to start them in life
with sound minds and bodies.
DR.. Curtis feels quit" sure that one
third Of the mortality in our army dur
: ing III" present war was due 10 poor
physical condition Of SO many OF our
mon. IIo believes that nalf of military
prcpa redncss consists solely in physical
preparedness and that the future Of tho
race depends upon such lines OF work as
will build UP It's physical condition.
West Virginia is one OF the states
that <till has much 10 do in order to cs-
tablish this idea of play in It's schools in
most sections OF the state. Play. prop
erly organized and supervised. will be
, n big factor IN making the West Vir-
ginians Of the future stronger and
healthier. in tho opinion Of Dr. Curtis.