The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1922-07-26
THE NEED OF PHYSICAL TRAINING

Il school system. That they appreciate the
value of an education is evident from the fact
that in proportion to the population of the town
their high school with an enrolment of two hum
dred and seventy-six pupils is the largest in the
state for cities of two thousand or over.
And yet there is one department which has
been sorely neglected very large number of
the school patrons realize That element is ply
steal education.
1t is true that we have athletics. And in
terscholastic athletics Of much value. They
help greatly the development Of school spirit. It
would be hard to conceive of our High School
without athletics; but this side of physical actv-
ties is thing quite apart from physical training;
for in athletics only those individuals who are
among the most physically fit to begin with can
be given attention for athletic contests. Those
undeveloped boys and girls who need physical de-
Velopment the most eliminated from consider
alton in athletics. And even if they were given
the opportunity, interscholastc athletics would
prove too strenuous for their own physical well
fare
There should be physical director in charge
of gymnastics, calisthenics or whatever one may
wish to call it, not only in the high school but also
in the grades; for one Of the first requisites for
success in the battles of life is sound body No
matter how brilliant his mind may be, an ndividu-
al is seriously handicapped in his efforts if he has
an anemic, puny, undeveloped body. The time to
correct this is during the growing PERIOD for it
is far easier to bend sapling than an old oak
If our children were inspected physically by
one who understood his business-or if need be
thoroly examined annually by physcian-the
physical director could then prescribe such exer-
cises for that individual as would help him to ov-
ercome any natural weakness. For the school as
a whole, properly worked-out general exercises
for fifteen or thirty minute period two or three
times a week would in the course of the childs
school life develope body of which he could be
proud and in which he would have fortress of
strength aiding to advantage his mind and soul
to wage the battles of life.
That there is great need for this is evident
from the large number of boys rejected on ply
steal grounds in the seective draft 1t is evident
from records Of public school nurses. 1t is evil
dent from conversations with and findings of
physicians. 1t is evident from records in schools
before and several years after the introduction of
physical training into their curriculum.
Simply educating the mind is not enough.
Man has a body and soul as well, both of which
should also be educated for man to be the entity
God intended. Education of the soul belongs pri-
marily to the home and to the church. But train
ing and development of the child's body lies dis
tnctly within the province of the school. If we
are to perform anywhere near our full duty to-
wards our children, we can not afford to be dere-
lict with regard to their bodies any more than
with regard to their minds and souls. Very many
schools Of our grade have installed this fundam-
entail in their curriculum. Can we afford to not
fall in line? If not, when and how shall we?
The final answer can be given by the patrons of
the district alone; for the building of gymnasium
at one building or the other is the only practical
answer to this extremely practical question