The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-23
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Director,
washington, D. c.
PLAYING THE HEALTH GAME.
Washington, D. G.

.
who have compiled impressions" of
their sojourns in the United States
from time to time, have emphasized,
among other things, the typical Amer
leans evident capacity for making
game of everything, from the most
frivolous and least important OF his
pleasures to his most serious business
and domestic problems. 1t is in the
split of a game that physical educa-
ton authorities are trying to wipe out
the high percentage of malnutrition
and general physical unfitness 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 to schoolhouse.
from building to county records, and
then to the notice Of state authorities,
until 1t is finally triumphantly summed
! in the public eye via educational and
other periodicals.
Our schools have failed in physical
education more than in mental edu-
cation. DR.. J. Mace Address. an au-
thority on child hygiene. says that
probably from 20 to 80 per cent of
the children in the United States are
undernourished.
But he adds, at is possible to do
away with ma1nutrition. One school
in the Middle West had rs per cent
OF its children underweight, but by
hard work, az the end of the year
only 6 per cent were underweight."
| In states where children are re-
quired to be in a good condition of
health before they are granted per-
mission to go to work it Is a notice.
able fact that both children and par
ents become interested in the practice
| of hygiene to meet the requirements
of the law.
Altho the movement for physical
|
active during the past two years, the
| first state law requiring it in the
schools was passed on June &c, 1915,
! by Illinois. Seven other states passed
similar measures before April, 1918.
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
of physical education be taught in the
schools. The far and middle western
| states have been most active in this
work, and the southern states are ac-
cepting the idea with increasing en-
| thusiasm. The four latest states to
join the ranks are Missouri West Vir-
ginia, North Carolina and Massachu-
sets.
/ 1.-The states are all interested in
physical education" says DR.. E. Dana
Caulkins of the National Physical
Education Service, but we need the
| federal stimulus. Our greatest help
lies in the passage of the bill now be-
fore congress which, among other
things, provides for a $3.50 financial
basis. That Is, the federal govern
ment will give one dollars for physical
education for each dollar which the
states will provide.
A Twofold Purpose.
The purpose of physical education
is twofold, involving instruction in the
care of the body and training in the
development of the body. The need
| for such training is undeniable when
one considers, for instance, the case
of John Virgins. Johns father had
raised a perfect mountain of a
blue ribbon pig for a county fair.
John himself, however, was seven
pounds underweight. When it was
suggested that he drink some of the
quantities of milk which was pro-
duced on the farm, he said scornfully:
MIX! Why, we give milk to the
pigs I drink coffee" John also
thought it was too cold to battle in the
night; thought he had plenty of air in
1.-The daytime without having his win
dows open at night. Nevertheless, the
deficient seven pounds ranked in
Johns mind and he gave the rules of
the game a trial. John was 3 years
old.
The 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 it is true. Stats
ties jointly compiled by the American
Medical association and the National
| Education association have proved
lit. In the cities interesting summer
classes and playground facilities are
planned to keep the children off the
streets, yet in the fresh air as far as
possible. In the country home condi-
lions 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 the early
part of the generation succeeding
them, the maternal parent usually
kept a watchful eye on the younger
members of the household. Before al
lowing a child to set foot over the
doorsill for school. she inquired if his
teeth were brushed, his nails and ears
clean, his shoes polished and his hair
combed. Even then he might not be
able to escape in time for game of
tag before school, if father CHANGED to
spy a bread crust uneaten on his
breakfast plate. Many a. time. in those
days. was a child unceremoniOuslyr re-
called to the table by an irate parent
and told mot to stir out of this house
for school until all that mush, or
oatmeal has been eaten up"
! But conditions nave vastly altered.
Many mothers are becoming absorbed
in other interests. not to say jobs.
Others are so taken with new ideas of
allowing little Algernon to develop his
own individuality that they sigh re-
signedly when he whines, "Oh man.
ma, but I don't want it, and hurry
him off to school. The modern father
who sees two-thirds of his family at
the breakfast-table is rare indt-
vidual.
Now, It is teacher with her much
talked of small salary and, usually. en-
joying the state of single blessedness.
to whom falls the additional duties of
seeing that some 90 or 80 little Alger-
mons and Susies brush their teeth,
have their lunches in the right kind Of
boxes, comb their hair, sleep with the
windows open and do various other
things, both at home and at school