Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-14
Authorities Consider Requir-
ing High Students to Make
"Fair Average"
TEACHER APPLICANTS
HEALTH GRADES LOW
Kramer Sees Need of Public Awak-
ening for Harder Capital
Children.

training DIS
major subject, which would be given
the same Importance as mathematics,
English or foreign language, doomed
today in public school circles as a
means of combating physical illit-
eracy," as shown by the most recent
physical examination of candidates for
entrance to the Wilson Teachers Col
lege.
The examination, made of high school
girls who were planning to take the
teacher training course, showed that
81 per cent had bad teeth, 35 per cent
were underweight and % per cent were
the victims of abnormal blood pressure.
Other physical defects revealed in the
examination which headed the list were
impaired eyesight and tonsil disorders.
Nineteen per cent of the examined girls
suffered from the former, while 10 per
cent were victims of the latter.
AS explained by Stephen E. Kramer,
first assistant superintendent in charge
of high schools, the school authorities
now are considering the advisability of
take at least three hours of physical
education each week under the same
rigid discipline as he essays his aca-
demic subjects. The authorities are
considering further the ACCESSIBILITY of
requiring a fairly high average in
physical examination for actual grad
uation.
Attention Given Games.
Another subject to which the school
officers are giving their attention is
the kind of athletic games being played
by high school teams. Mr.. Kramer
said that it seemed to him too much
attention is being centered on games
which are strictly activities Of school
life and which are not played after
graduation. The foremost among these,
he cited, is foot ball. Citing golf and
tennis, Mr.. Kramer said in his opinion
the games played almost throughout
life are being sighted.
In its consideration of the whole
program of physical literacy the official
school staff is using as basis reso-
luton adopted this year at indianapolis
by the Americanism Commission and
National Executive Committee of the
National American Legion. This reSolu-
ton favored "a minimum program OF
physical education in the public schools
which will require at least one hour
per day for three days a week, or its
equivalent, and that this program be
developed along the lines of organized
play and recreation applicable to the
various age groups in the public schools,
under trained leadership in the field OF
work" At present only two hours a
week during the high school course are
required in the physical training field,
and the addition of another hour as
a minimum, Mr.. Kramer believes, would
60 far toward providing the physical
exercise and instruction to correct most
of the physical defects of public school
children. BY further placing the physi-
cal education on a par with other ma
ior subjects in the school curriculum,
Mr.. Kramer is convinced, great physical
improvement could be attained in the
youth of Washington.
Reaction Is Awaited.
whether we are going to be able to
expand our physical education pro-
gram" he said, will depend to a great
extent on the reactions of parents and
teachers TO our proposals. Without that
support we can do nothing. Yet, l be-
lieve, if the public were informed as to
the kind and extent of physical defects
among our children 1T would quickly
respond in favoring a more extensive
physical education schedule for our
schools"
The examination Of approximately
100 girls who are planning to UNDER
take training for the teaching profess
sion. Mr.. Kramer added, is the only
existing standard by which we can
Judge the physical condition OF our
children. Besides the five most COM
mon defects already named, other all
ments and the percentage of each fol-
low: Thyroid, 6 per cent; one shoulder
higher than other, S per cent; pulse
dificulties, 8 per cent; defective posture,
per cent; fiat feet, 5 per cent; nasal
distractions, 3 per cent; defective heart,
2 per cent; overweight, 2 per cent, and
cervical gland trouble, one arm smaller
than other, crying spells, round
shoulders, prolonged respiration, de-
fective hearing and digestive disturb
ances, / per cent each.
Recognizing the value which this ex-
animation has, Mr. Kramer believes
complete examinations in the senior
and Junior high schools, as well as in
the elementary schools, would be of I'M
told value in Revealing defects earlier so
that they could be corrected with
greater ease. A further difficulty in
this connection, however, he said, would
be the necessity of having an increased
medical staff for the work.