Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-04-15
PHYSICAL TRAINING
FOR MIDD FRESHMEN
College Grants Three Credits for
Hygiene and Gym Work

The Campus, official weekly of the
College undergraduates, had the fol-
lowing account Of the adoption of
compulsory physical training at Mid
dlebury in its issue of Wednesday.
Motivated by a realization of the
inadequacy of existing methods of
physical drill and hygienic instruction
in coping with the needs of men in
first year classes the Faculty last week
adopted a plan providing compulsory
physical training for freshmen men
which will go into effect next Septem-
ber The plan which was drawn up by
Professor A. NJ Brown, Physical Di-
rector for the Mems College, specifies
three hours of supervised work each
week and grants three points toward
graduation for the full year course.
The reinstallation of compulsory
training after four years during which
it has been optional, will necessitate
certain readjustments as to class ap-
pointments which will probably in
crease the number of afternoon classes.
With sections of not more than forty
men each it will be possible to divide
the class into three sections, two of
which are likely to meet at the eleven
thirty period while the other will be
accommodated in the afternoon. The
new arrangement will not interfere
with the use of the gymnasium by
womens classes as at present.
The most Objectionable feature of
the old system of physical education
has been removed by the granting of
college credits for the work without
raising the number of required points
for graduation as was then done. Mem
bers of the class will be graded on the
basis Of classroom work in hygiene
with a standard text and on efficiency
tests OF strength speed, endurance.
energy and skill in connection with
the practical work in the gymnasium
or on the athletic field
Professor Browns present plan calls
for a varied program of work during
the fall, winter and spring seasons.
During the fall and spring much of the
time will be spent out of doors when
the class will undertake certain forms
of exercise not readily adapted to the
gymnasium such as track and field
sports. During the winter months the
class will be drilled in calisthenics,
gymnastics, group contests and the
fundamentals of boxing and wrestling.
The INTRODUCTION of compulsory fresh
man training will be OF further ad-
vantage to members OF advanced
courses in Physical Education for it
will give them an opportunity for OBJ
servation and practical work in hand
ling large classes.
For men in the three upper classes in
college and members OF the Faculty
Professor Brown will introduce next
fall an optional class in physical train
ing to be conducted along the line of
those for business men The course
will be extra curriculum and will be
given three hours each week between
Thanksgiving and Easter.
In reinstating a program for compul-
sorry training Middlebury has allied it
self with one of the most forward
in education and in which
are enlisted almost without exception
the secondary and advanced institu-
tions of learning in the country. In
passing it is interesting to note that
the Fess- Capper bill now before Con-
gress provides for an appropriation of
Sl0000,000 by the Federal government
for the purpose of encouraging and
the work of physical edu-
cation in these fields A recent review
of the work which is being undertaken
throughout the United States shows
that more than twenty-five common
wealths have taken legislative action
in promoting this work.