The New York herald., 1921-05-01
More Athletics for
Children in France
American Committee Assisting
in Development of Physical
Training.

France having produced Carpenter,
the heavyweight contender, and having
made Johnny Coulon's physical prowess
an International subject. IS striding rap
idly toward the day when she can put
winning Olympic teams into the field,
according to Miss Agnes Doran, who has
returned from France recently. Miss
Doran was sent TO France last spring by
the American Committee for Devastated
France. the French Government placing
her In charge as directress of all physi-
cal training of school children of the
cantons of Blerancourt, .anizy. SCISSORS,
Coucy and Vic-sur-Aisne. There were
sixty-seven schools and 2,305 children in
her territory.
"The French peasants are stocky. but
not supple like the Americans, SAID
Miss Doran They did not have public
athletics as we know it, but now they
are wild about it. A small number de-
veloped as strong men for professional
show purposes. but the mass of people
if muscular at all. merely were so
through hard work i'm lifting burdens.
THE French Government established
since the war what we have tried to get
here for years, compulsory physical
training But they did not have enough
physical instructors. and when the
American Committee for Devastated
France offered to take the work for the
ruined cantons as part of our work of
building up the generation the Govern
ment thankfully put us in complete
charge there"
Miss Doran was physical director for
women In the University of Texas before
enlisting at the request OF Miss Anne
Morgan TO organize the work overseas.
Miss Doran went to France i'm June
trained a staff OF directors and intro
duced course In physical instruction
which the Government made official
Following the method of all American
Committee work. the instructors devel-
oped teachers among the French. who in
turn trained other directors. thus ex-
handing the work by constantly multi
plying the leaders.
The course Is designed to appeal to
the interest OF the pupils who exercise
while at play without realizing they are
being put through developing exercises.
The little children play singing games
which develop their muscles and lungs,
the older children are coached In mass
play. They have advanced to point
where the youngsters voluntarily g1
through their exercises as play with
no directors at hand.
'One OF the most gratifying eApeti-
ences / had" said Miss Doran, was
TO see from a passing motor one OF our
little captains putting the other childre1
through our games. unconscious of the
fact that he was observed. You sec we
divide each school into two competing
sides and choose captains from the
groups. This develops competition and
fair play.
'wher the American Committee TOOK
charge these children were running
wild They had been for four years
under German domination. and since the
war the older people we're too busy re-
claiming the fields and rebuilding tire
villages TO care for them We had t1
take them from the beginning. with the
simplest games Last summer they he 4
an intervillage Olympic and next year
they arc going to hold a bigger meot
between the best teams chosen from tho
cantons Watch France in future attn
tetic meets"