Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-25
WILLIAM A. sTEcHER
On the Olympic Games

TNHE victory up to date of the American
= athletes In the Olympic games at Ant
werp, a triumph which has distinguished
the track and field events of every meet since
the ancient Greek classic has been revived,
reflects the broader educational policy of
this country along physical lines, in the
opinion Of William A. 'Stetcher, director Of
the division of physical training Of the
public schools of this city.
while our physical education has been
broader and along more recreational lines,
he said, that of the European nations has
been narrower and more formal.
"Thus there are three general systems of
physical training in the world today. There
Is the Swedish system which consists Of the
mors stilted forms of exercise, In line with
the training of the militarists, with Its calls
themes, its apparatus work and its gym.
nastic features. Then there Is the English
system which embodics some of these fea-
lures and modification of some of our own
methods. Our own system embraces the
most radical of the three. II is more ac-
tive system. Speed, agility, blithesome,
buoyant frame of mind, are Its keynotes.
"For instance. syou will notice that
America was successful in the sprint races.
the jumping events, the all around forms OF
exercise, such as the dccathlon, and that
she placed we'll in the middle distance runs.
Our Systems Advantages
THAT reflects after all the school train:
ing Of the boys. They had the running and
jumping, the active outdoor games all a
compulsory part of their work and all
that was bound to make its influence fel II
in such an athletic test as the Olympic
games. The European nations on the other
hand did not have 50 much Of the outdoor
work. Their forms of exercise too were not
the quick, agile ones that the American
athletes had experienced.
Then, too there Is more of the element
Of initiative In the American physical train
ing. This counts heavily in close race or
any other form of physical contest.
"On the whole, our school pupils have
had more of the outdoor educational life
than the other nations. The importance OF
this factor is seen in the showing made by
the northern countries such as Finland and
Sweden, who have great deal of the out
door life. England. no doubt, would have
made a better showing if it had not been
for the war. Much of her effective man
power was used up; industrial conditions
too have affected her physical life
Then again. without wishing to indicate
that this accounted for the victory of our
| athletes. we must consider the question of
| comparative national health. Most of tho
countries of Europe at the present time IRE
| III much poorer health nationally than we
| are. Nearly every country over there, to
some extent or other, is suffering more or
| less from malnutrition. This may not have
| affected the performance Of their athletes.
| but 1t does show the state of national
| stamina.
Climate, too, was an important factor in
the games. II is significant that the c0un
| tries with the more invigorating northern
| climates made the best showing in the con :
tests. Take our country. England. Finland
| and Sweden, and compare them with France,
| Italy, Spain and others, and the result tells
the story.
| Then again We are a far wcalther coun
| try and have creator population than most
Of our competing countries, but on the other
| hand we were far from home with the several
| disadvantages OF distance; We could only
| send limited humber of men. while some
| OF the other countries could nut all their
| available men into the various events.
The American boys had to take II long
| and fatiguing sea trip, with its limited
opportunities for exercise. But on tho
| other hand there was the stimulus of com q.
peting In foreign lands before the eyes Of the
world, a factor that always brings out tn,
best in American sport.
| American Physique Better
THE American athlete has quicker
more nervous temperament than his Euro
pean rivals POSSESS. This made him
quicker at the start and In general added Il
zest TO his performances that went far In
determining the final results.
'"fhere iS u national heritage of lpaah,
strength and stature that msspk~66dcn N