Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-21
By FREDERIC ]. HAsK1N

Washington, d. c, July ls-Curious
visitors from European shores who
have compiled Impressions" OF their
sojourns in the United States from
time to time have emphasized, among
other things. the typical Americans
evident capacity for making n game Of
everything. from the most frivolous
and least important OF his pleasures
to his most serious business and do
nestle problems. !, "a in the spirit
of a game that physical education au-
thorlties are trying 20 wipe out the
high percentage OF aiainutEit!on AID
general physlcal Iniltness hmone
school children. Charts, recording the
gain In weight OF members OF the class,
are compared each month. The de-
velopment OF good ,.auits is likewise
noted. The result OF such compar!-
sen spreads from classroom TO school
house, from building 20 county rec
ords. and then TO the notice OF state
authorities, until It IS finally tTIum-
phsntly summed In the public eye VIA
education and other periodicals.
our schools have ssiied in physical
education more than In mental educa-
ton. DR.. j. Mace Address. an au-
probably from 20 to =, per cent OF the
children in the United States are
uAdernourished.
But" he adds, 1T is possible to do
away with malnutriti1n. one scnool
in the middle West had Is per cent or
its children under weight, but by hard
work. at the end OF the year only s
per cent were under weight
In states where chiidr"n are required
TO be in good CONDITION OF health be-
fore they are granted permission to go
10 work, It Is noticeable fact that
RFs
terested In the practise OF hygiene TO
meet the requirements OF the law.
Altho tho movement. for physical
education legislation has been most
active during the past Two years, the
first state law requiring Il in the
nchools was passed on June 20. 1918 by
Illinois. Seven other states passed
similar measures before April, 1915
They were New York. New Jersey. Ne
VIDA, Rhode Island. California. Mary
Land and Delaware Al the present
time more than halt OF the states have
laws requiring that RUNE phase OF
physical education he taught In the
schools. The far and middle western
states have been most active in this
work. and the southern states are nc
etptns the idea with increasing en-
thusiasm, The four latest states to
Join the ranks are Missouri, West Viz
sinla. North Carolina and MRssachu-
Hctts.
The states are all interested in
I physical education" SAYS DR.. F Dana
caulkins Of the National Physical
Service. but We need the Federal
the passage OF tho bill now before
congress which. among other thlngs.
provides for $3.50 financial basis
That is, the federal government will
give one dollar for physical education
for each dollar which the states will
provide.
Tvofold Purpose
The purpose OF physical education Is
Itwofold. involving instruction in the
care OF the body and training in the
development OF the .ody. The need
for such training Is undenin bic when
one considers for Instance, the case OF
John Virgins. JONAS father had
raised a perfect mountain Of a blue
ribbon pig for county fair John
himself. however. was seven pounds
lunderweisht. When IL was suggested
OF milk which was produced on the
farm, he said scornfully;
MIX Why. We give milk to the
piss. drink coffee" John also
thought it was too cold to battle in the
morning liked to stay up late at night.
thought he had plenty Of air in the
day time without having his windows
open at night. Nevertheless. the de-
ficiont seven pounds ranked In Johns
mind and he gave the rules OF the
game" a trial. John was IL years old.
Tho health conditions OF country
children average worse than those OF
city children. This may seem odd TO
one accustomed to hearing the bromide
about going to the country for ones
health. but 1t is true. Statistics Jointly
compiled by the American Medical As
ISOLATION and the National Educational
association have proved It. In the
cities interesting summer classes and
playground facilities are planned 10
keep the children off the streets vet
In the fresh air az far ms possible In
the country home conditions are too
frequently unsanitary and In many
cases the children do not have the
proper kind or amount Of recreation
In the days when father and mother
went to school and even in tho early
part Of the generation succeeding
them. the maternal parent usually
kept wRtchful eve on the younger
members of the household. Before al
lowing n child to SGT foot over the door
sir for school. sho inquired II his teeth
were brushed. hts nails and ears
clean. his shoes polished and his hair
oombed Even then he might not he