The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-08
Organization Proposed to Take
Over Physical Development
of Femininity of America
HEALTH TO BE OBJECTIVE
Plan Is Opposed to Athletic
Exploitation as Spectacle
or for Commercial Gain
By GEORGE E. DURNO.
international News Service.

A huge national organization of
women designed to stand as a
sdeliberating, Investigating, legis-
lating, promoting, advising, and
Misunderstanding body" on the
special problems incident to physi-
cal development of Americas girls
and women, was conceived here
last night as the climax of con-
ference of physical training in
structors and experts from all
parts of the country, called by
Mrs. Herbert Hoover.
10 CORRECT BAD METHODS.
Alarmed by inadequacy of health
training and physical development
for girls and women. and by GER
tain harmful and incorrect methods
Of such development now being
practiced, the delegates to the con-
ference elected 10 set up q special
organization for the primary pro-
motion Of healthful athletic training
for the nations girls.
This organization will affiliate
with the National Amateur AtE-
letic Federation of America and
function jointly on the common, or
racial problems of development Of
both sexes physically, but viii def
nitely and solely control the direc-
ton of girls athletics. It will
include in its membership all WON.
ems organizations and bodies inter.
ested directly and indirectly in
physical training.
The primary object of the new or
ganizetion, as outlined by Mrs.
Hoover and other prominent women,
viii be to direct vigorous, healthy
athletic activity among ali girls,
and at the same time protect those
girls from exploitation for the en-
joyment of the spectator or for
the athletic reputation or CONNER
cia1 advantage of any school or
other organization"
Other aims include:
i. Placing the teaching, control
and coaching Of al physical activ-
ties for girls and women in the
hands of carefully trained, and
properly qualified women.
2. The discoura cement of com
n1ercial expIoitation Of girl ath.
letes and Of professionalism.
3. The extension of physical
training in the schools and the &
Introduction of proper methods
for such training.
4. Concentration upon non-com-
petitiye physical activities.
5. The submerging of individ-
ual athletic prowess in favor of
group or team athletics.
The first step in the formation
of the new organization will be the
appointment of a committee of not
less than seven women by Mrs.
Hoover, this committee to stand as
the final controlling body, under
the authority of the National ANA
teur Athletic Federation, on WON
ems athletics during the next year,
or until two functions have been
accomplished.
These functions are to work out
with officials of the N. A A. F.:
The detailed organization of the
N. A. A.. F. in dealing with the
racial or common problem .on ath-
letics as they apply to both boys
and girls: and,
The detailed organization of the
special women's organization as a
part of the n. A. A. F.
-Four members of this committee
already have been designated. The
remaining three or more will be
appointed within a month.
Those already selected are Miss
Blanche thrilling. professor Of physi-
cal education of Wisconsin; DIR. J.
Anna Norris, director of physical
education for women. University of
Minnesota; Miss Helen McKinstry,
director of the Central School of
Hygiene and Physical Education.
g w. c: A., New York city, and
MISS Helen Frost, Teachers Col
Iege. Columbia University. New
York City.
Mrs. Hoover probably will serve
on the committee. Other nroba.
b1lities include Helen NJ. Bunting
of Stanford University, Cal. and
Elizabeth Buchenal of the Ameri.
can Folk Dance Society of New
York city.