Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-08-05
MORE PHYSICAL INSTRUCTORS NEEDED.

One of the results of countrys preparation for
its part in the great has been general awakening
of interest in the practical value of formal physical
training of young men.
The need Of more physical education for the young
men of military age in the United States has been
strikngly illustrated by figures taken from the Provost
Marshal Generals report the draft. Few people
realized before this report made public that in
number of states in the Union 40 per of the
men examined physically unfit for military service
and that 80 per cent of the examined in the United
States were physical rejects While some of those re-
ected had defects which remediable yet in
large majority of cases. the could have been made
1T to fight had they proper physical education
in the schools. In Illinois, 28,999 rejected
physically unfit. 1893 per cent of the total ex-
amned in Illinois were accepted in other words out
of every four men examined by the draft boards in
Illinois rejected physically unfit for military
ice.
Of the men accepted, large number ply
sicay unframed and great deal of time lost in
the military preparations incident to the great in
building up the bodies these citizen soldiers as basis
for the military training which followed Some of the
7
need of special physical training In one camp only so
pr cent of the test could the 1OO-yard dash
in IA seconds SO per cent of the taking the test
qualified in the high jump of four feet % per cent
qualified in the running broad jump of ID feet In
other camp in a standing broad jump test over 6foot
trench, 20 per cent of the 5000 taking the test
failed to jump the distance and fell in the trench Era
Because of the physical lessons of the war; atten-
ton is directed to remedial legislation A bill has
recently been introduced in Congress which provides in
for substituting physical education in the several
states 1t further provides for research and physical
education including health education recreation, and
sanitation and authorizes appropriation of 500 000-
to the states in the promotion of physical
education and instruction in the principles of health
and sanitation and for providing school nurses school
dental clinics and otherwise promoting physical and
mental welfare In addition thirteen states have pass
ed legislation making physical education compulsory in
the public schools and other states considering SINH
lar legislation In addition to these legislative provis
ions other bills have been prepared which will probably
be introduced in the present session of Congress- All
of them look toward greater development of the gem
eral scope of physical education in the nation and pro-
vide for Federal assistance
Schools and colleges have undertaken the work of
physical education with plans and greater energy
and large number CT cities have made plans for i'm
proving their facilities and programs for physical recre.
, alton and training.
If these various plans are to succeed, and if the
proper instruction in physical education is be given
in the United States greater emphasis must be laid
upon the training of and as physical edu-
Gators. At present there in round numbers, APP
proxmately $500 and women in this country
trained to instruct in physical education, while COM
prehensive program of physical education would re-
qure at least 10000 trained men and women in
physical education.