Physical Culture in Schools.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12583, 21 January 1905, Page 1 (Supplement)

Physical Culture in Schools.

In England, physical, exercises were made a compulsory subject for boys and girls in 1889. The London Board had then the advantage of the services of an organiser of experience, who from the Various methods in use. in other European countries, elaborated a - system, which has points of marked advantage. : Into this teaching' no : thing has beenjintrcxluced for show, or display. The exercises aTe-progressive, and none are so complicated, as not to be easily mastered. The general scheme embraces "head movements, raising and swinging of arms, trunk movements, leg and hip and arm movements, side : and direct lunging, balance movements, shoulder movements, exercises when on the 1 march, marching in various formations, figure inarching, etc. These movements, it is-confidently asserted, • })ring into play every muscle of the- body, and thus children; by learning to do. these movements .correctly, lay the foundation for more-advanced--exercises.

l The -Swiss physical-exercises are distinguished by their, musical , character—a point by the way, upon which specialists vary much in opinion; , By .some-it- is m'aintainedrthat a musical accompaniment cause'a the attention ■to wander; others hold thaiit affords a- beneficial: fest for the brain. Great variety is cultivated in the system, children being-taught to*, work out gymnastic problems by means of apparatus. The training is under municipal control, each 'municipality, providing :its own large gymnasium, appointing its teachers, and framing its rules. Of all these bodies there is a central federation; • Every year a large fete is held, either'at- Geneva, or Lucerne. On these occasions as many as 10,000 students go through the evolution simultaneously. . The value of the Swedish system lies' in ,the ifact. that/its' first consideration is for the; vital organs.- No-exercise, which interfores with ■ respiration is permitted ; whi'e breathing exercises are - constantly given, and in every movement the influence upon the heart and.lungs carefully noted. The one aim always in . view, , the ideal of physical training, vis • a perfect balance of the whole frame. Thfere are 2500 different movements in: the system. Despite this,, it has been said • that its great drawback is monotony. The avoidance should be'a cardinal point in any system of exercising the body; Allow a child's attention to. wander, and the good of._the lesson, is lost. -' In Sweden: the, exercises commence as early as "the age : of/6; and as they are continued-until the age-"of 25, without their character being changed,, it is easy to imagine that they may pall upon children. An. important feature, which must not be overlooked, is the custom of examining, measuring, and weighing all children, in the presence of- two,doctors. This Ts done at tlie-commencement and. conclusion of each term, and-"records.are kept-. It is thus possible to watch the development of the strong, to pick out' the less fit,- and put them, into-separate classes for exercise apart...... . .■; . - ■ Tihe XJermans aim. at-the development of the. muscles. For this purpose they have large gymnasiums, fitted at one end: with necessary apparatus, the remainder of the hall, being, used for the which play a prominent part in the system of; training. Combative force seems the central idea, so there are tugs of war, wrestling, etc. A register is kept in each town, and . civilians are expected to attend once a week up to the age of 30. The chief objection to the German method is thatthe children are exercised at a much too early age with "fixed apparatus. The frame :is-then in -too impressionable a state for the work, and as a-result thete is an overdevelopment of shoulder blades and biceps, and an insufficient development of the legs.

GOOD RULES;

- 1/As a rule, 10 to 15 minutes every day should be devoted to physical exercises and drill, and in addition, standards 111. to VII. should have, once a ,week, a lesson in the v playground of 30 minutes.2. When exercises are taken in school, doors and windows should be wide open before the lesson begins. ' '3. No exercise should be severe or prolonged. ,• 1 .4. Physical exercise should be quite distinct- from recreation. -

%: During lessons in the playground no scholar should be allowed to have the head bare. - - , 6- Explanations of 1 movements should bs given when the . children are standing easy, or'when sitting, in the schoolroom. J: Never keep" the. flijldren too long at, one exercise, whether correctly performed or not. jp Af intp.rv.qliE. diming: the lesson, march the' children round;. and back to- p T aces, in various ways; and always give frequent rests. ' . ,

9. At all times see that • tbe--a e '> :! <3ren breathe .through the nostrils ■„ and not through the mouth. : 10. In . all lessons, let' and arm movements should be taken alternately. "it Lpnger lewsons , should always, coniliifle with marching.. " • • 12; Exercises for. children should be easv •>nd of moderate amount. Those which ran be associated with music are best. Exer--ises of skill, strength, and endurance, and *:hpse with fixed annaratus, mu6t be (left for: .a later period of life.-•