The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-05-19
MISS SMITH on PHYSICAL EDUCA-
TION

CONTINUED from Page TWO
active and strong thus safeguarding
against constipation and other inter
nal organic troubles SO often brought
on by weakness of the abdominal
muscles. Then too 1t teaches the girls
how to walk and stand correctly, as
well as the benefits of deep breathing.
g. Then we come to the question,
do Skowhegan girls need this physical
training. The answer is so obvious to
me that 1t seems almost unnecessary
to say, emphatically yes. But II some
of you think that the country air and
surroundings make 1t unnecessary, just
notice the next school girls you meet.
Almost 9 out of 10 are stopped over
round shouldered and hollow chested.
This position contracts the muscles of
the shoulders and chest. detracts from
the breathing capacity. and when the
pure air does not penetrate the entire
lungs, health is impaired. the nerve
system is under nourished and hence
the ailments and nervousness so COM
mon to school girls. The reason for
this condition is not hard to find The
rls are in the schoolroom the best
part of the day, leaning over desks, |
many times breathing impure air. Thus
the habit of leaning forward is formed
and no counteracting exercises to
strengthen and develop the muscles is
provided
An illustration which / happen to
know to be true and is only one of
many, concerns a girl in this very |
town. Her mother in despair said |
to me. What am | going to do with |
my daughter. She is so round shout |
dered" | said, Cant you impress 1t
upon her that she would not only look |
better but feel better If she stra ght-
ened up? But she replied, i've talked
and talked until cant talk any more, |
and now evey time tell her to sit up
or stand up we both lose our temper.
Besides this she has a cold all the |
time, is nervous and her bowels are
not as they should be. and 1t Is nee
essary for her to take a carthartic at
least once or twice week" You
see the mother realizes that something |
Is wrong with her daughter, but she
herself is almost helpless to do any !
thing. This is a plain result of the |
lack of Phys cal Education in the |
schools. One i'll leads to another |
without one realizing it. Posture and
right breathing are habits formed
young in life, and it is almost useless !
to tell child to sit up or as the old
fashioned phrase ran, Throw your
shoulders back" which as a matter of
fact is not what one should do. The |
chest should be lifted, the head held
up and then the shoulders go into
position naturally and not stiffly. The
muscles of the chest and shoulders
must first be strengthened. and the |
habit of good posture must be formed. |
With myself, ii has been very hard |
to form the habit of good posture, al |
though the two years of training | had |
at Posse Gymnasium. did much to-
ward improving my sitting and stand |
ing position. OF course | was told
more or less to throw my shoulders
back" but IL had learned to stand |
and walk correctly and the muscles
were strengthened as | learned to
read. it would have been much easier.
Individuality counts too. because it is
much easier for some to stand straight
| than others, just as in school some
! learn to read more readily than
others.
The law has been passed in Maine
, that all schools should have Physical
Train ng and for Physical Training to
give the results that it is intended a
gymnasium Is most essential. We
have no gymnasium here, and so the
problem confronts us-What shall we
do about 1t?