The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-04-04

10y MAX M. HerS6Cn, swimming In
Structor in the Ely SchoolS.)
The Curriculum Research Committee
of the Society of Physical Directors in
the colleges recently sent out queS-
tionnaire.
Its object was to evaluate the var
ious physical activities.
One hundred and twenty-five of the
leading physical directors in the col
leges rated swimming as the most val
liable activity from the standpoint of
physical value. That swimming should
receive the highest rating is one of
greatest Importance. More schools
and colleges will include courses in
swimming in their curricula. Harvard
University recently dedicated their new
$3.50, 100000 swimming pool. This pool
is without doubt the most complete
and the most expensive pool in the
country. 1t is just another example
Of how highly the leading educational
institutions rate swimming. The de
mand for trained teachers of SWIM
ming will be much greater than it is
now.
Education in swimming has been
given and is yet, in some parts of the
country, at the wrong time of a stud
ents educational course He should
be taught in the grades. 1t is pitiful
to look at class of college men who
are attempting to learn the art; big,
heavy boned, muscle-bound men who
are bending every effort to keep their
heads above water.
The word educated applies i'm
perfectly to college graduate who
may be compelled to stand on a wharf
and see and hear helpless person
struggling and calling for help, and
yet be unable to spring into the water
and rescue him.
1t is most unfortunate that some
physical directors and coaches know
little or nothing about swimming.
1t Is still more regretable that some
coaches exempt boys from swimming
class II they are participants in some
other sport, regardless as to whether
the boy can swim or not.
Let there be change; the neces-
sity Of being able to swim is terribly
apparent to the drowning person and
the thousands of needlessly drowned
have a poor educational system to
thank for their fate.
Swimming is not given as an exer-
else but is taught mainly because it
is necessity that you know how to
swim.
In most schools swimming is taught
once week. To swim once a week
viii not do any athlete the least harm,
regardless of what branch of athletics
he takes part in. On the contrary it
will make him better prepared and
fit in a case of emergency No one
swimmer can swim so well that he
cannot improve.
Some people will master the art with
ease, to others it means hardship; the
first mentioned are usually the ones
who become speed swimmers, the lat
tier are usually the cutters Those
= that think swimming is hard work are
just the ones that should keep on
working until they can master the
stroke and hard work will turn into
play.
According to the United States CEN
sus statistics, thousands of persons
drown every year. 1t is strange fact
that many who are daily exposed to
danger from drowning do not know
how to swim. No person who cannot
swim has any right to be in a canoe;
they are flirting with death and be-
come public liability.
One often times hear people say,
He was a good swimmer and yet he
drowned" There are cases when good
swimmers drown, due to unknown
circumstances that is true, but ninety
nine per cent of all drownings are
due to failures in knowing how.
Swimming is without doubt the
cleanest, healthiest and greatest of
all sports. Not only as competitive
sport, but as lifetime recreational
source of pleasure for all. There is no
greater tonic known for the human
body than sunshine, fresh air and
water. E%I
There is no pastime or play more
democratic in its nature than SWIM
ming.
Where a number of persons are
gathered to enjoy this invigorating
sport, there is only one line to be
drawn, the water level, and the arts
tocrets are those who keep their heads
above the water.