Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-21
Playing the
Health Game
~ Frederic J. Haskin

By trr0fftG D. tfaFHhh
washington, July 2fl--curious yiai-
tors from European shores who have
compiled "impfeasionsy of their 30
fourns in the United states from time
70 time have emphasized. among other
things. the typical Americans evil
dent capacity for making game ~
everything. from the most frivolous
and least important of his pleasures
to his most serious business and do-
meatic problems. IL is IN the spirit
Of O game that physical education
authorities are trying 10 wipe out the
high percentage of malnntrition and
general physical unatness among
school children. Charts, recording the
gain in weight Of members Of the
class. are compared each month. The
development Of good habits is likewise
noted. The result Of such comparison
spreads from classroom 20 school
house. form building 20 county rec
urds. and then 70 tho notice 81 state
authorities, until it is finally trium-
| phantly summed IN the public eye via
educational and other periodicals.
our schools have failed in physical
education more than in mental edu-
| cation. Or. J. Mace Address. an
authority on child hygiene, says that
probably from 20 10 30 per cent Of the
children in the United States are uu-
dornourished.
| But" he adds 1t is possible 70 do
away with mainutrition One school
/ in the Middle West had 73 per cent Of
/ its children underweight. but By hard
I q
per cent were un eS- Weight"
| In states whore children are re-
quired 70 be IN a good condition of
health before they are granted per
mission to 90 70 work. il is a notice
able fact that both children and
parents become interested in the
/ practice Of hygiene 20 meet the re-
quirements of the law.
Although the movement for physical
4 education legislation has been most
active during the past two years. the
| first state law requiring il in the
schools was passed on June 2G. 1915
by Illinois. Seven other states passed
similar measures before April. 1918
4 They were New York, New Jersey.
Nevada. Rhode Island. California.
Maryland and Delaware. At the pres
ent time more than half OF the states
have laws requiring that some phase
4 Or physical education be taught in hte
4 schools The far and middle western
states have been most active in this
work, and the southern states are ac-
cepting the idea with increas sing enehu-
siasm. The four latest states 10 joir
the ranks are Missouri, West Virginia
North Carolina and Massachusetts.
The states are all interested n
physical education" says DR.. p. Dana
Caulkins Of the National Physics.
Education Service. but we need tn,
Federal stimulus our greatest hel,
lies in the passage of the bin now be
2 fore Congress which. among othei
things, provides for a $3.50 hnancia
basis. That is. the Federal Govern
! ment win give one dollar Tor physica
} education for each dollar which IN.
, states win provide
4 TwofoId Purpose.
/, The purpose of physical education
Is twofold, involving instruction in tn.
care Of the body and training in II.
II development Of the body. The neec
for such training is undenia bic wher
tone considers. for instance, the case d
John Virgins. Johns father had
raised perfect mountain Of a blu.
{ ribbon pig FOR a county fair. Johr
himself. however. was seven pounds
underweight. When il was suggested
that he drink some Of the qnantitie,
~ milk which was produced on tn.
farm, he said scornfulIy:
pigs. ! drink coffee" John alst
thought 1t was too cold ID bathe in IN,
morning: liked to stay up late a
night; thought he had plenty Of ali
in the daytime without having hi
windows open at night Nevertheless
the deficient seven pounds rankIed il
Johns mind and he gave the "ruIei
Of the game" a trial. John was /.
years old.
The health conditions of countr,
children average worse than those o
city children. This may seem odd L
one. accustomed to hearing the bro.
mide about going to the country foi
ones health. but it is true. Statistic,
Jointly compiled by the American
Medical Association and the Nationa
Educational Association have proyeC
it. IN the cities interesting sumEnel
classes and playground facilities arr
planned 10 keep the children of tbs
streets yet in the fresh air as far as
possible. In the country home con
ditions are TOO frequently unsanitary
and in many cases the children do not
have the proper Kind or amount oi
recreation.
In the days when father and mother
went 10 school and even in the early
part of the generation succeeding
them, the maternal parent usually kept
a watchful eyegon the younger mem
bers Of the household. Before allow.
ing a child 10 set foot over the door
sill for school, she inquired II his teetH
were brushed. his nails and ears clean
his shoes polished and his hair comb.
ed. Even then he might not be able
to escape in time for a game Of tae
before school. il father chanced 10 spy
a bread crust uneaten on his break.
fast plate. Many a time, in thos,
days. was a child unceremoniousIy re
called to the table By an irate paren
and told, mot TO stir out of this hous,
for school until all that mush. or cat
meal, has been eaten up"
But conditions have vastly altered
Many mothers are becoming sbsorbe,
in other interests, not to say Jobs