Volume 1

Health lectures for the people.

Date:
1883-1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Health lectures for the people. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    751/896 (page 63)
    disadvantages in this respect. The tenth and last question was framed to draw out opinions on any other bearings that the exercise might have on those who took part in them, whether from an intellectual or moral point of view. Several included their answers to this side of the question under Query No. VI., but as I meant this to refer to physical conditions, I did not discuss these replies along with the others, thinking it better to leave them till the present time. For the sake of convenience we may group the replies as they bear—1st, on the intellectual, 2d, on the moral aspect of the effects of physical exercise, and in each case we may again subdivide into advantages and dis- advantages. The possible intellectual disadvantages are such as the following :—The temptation to spend too much time on them (games), and to think too much of athletic success; this comes from one of the largest public schools in England. Another head-master says : Boys are so excitable that very little work is done just before an interesting match. From one of the larger public schools comes : The worst result of athletic sports is the tendency in young minds to worship mere skill in games without reference to moral or mental qualities. The balance, however, is less in danger than it used to be. A medical attendant of 260 boys writes: After hard games (matches) the boys are not in a good condition for their school work for that day. A head-master of 140 boys has observed that a certain number of boys show a diminution of intellectual power in the cricket season. Not many speak of direct intellectual gain, because this is much concerned with the general vigour and moral force gained by athletic exercises to be noticed immediately, but such remarks as the following may serve to indicate the feeling on the question, The worst boys intellectually, physically, and morally, are the loafers. Or again, from one of very extensive experience: The boys who work hard and play hard do not ape the vices of men, and are free from the insidious evils that often fasten on unoccupied boyhood. If now we turn to the moral and educational aspect of athletic exercises the opinions are, I may say, altogether favourable and very strongly so. A good deal that is discussed need not be