On physical training in schools / by W.P. Herringham.

  • Herringham, Wilmot Parker, 1855-1936.
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: On physical training in schools / by W.P. Herringham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    (»X T'HVSK’AI. THAIMXf; IX Sl'HOOLS. r> When ))oys get older, and have a real uish to deveh)|» themselves, there is notliing e([iial to Sandow’s system. He teaches very slow, even, and strong movements against the resistance either of the opposing muscles or of apparatus. It is very hard work, and on that account unsuitable for chil- dren; hut it is e.xcellent exercise, ]>rodncing a feeling of vigour and good health, and its results are really surprising. The following are the measurements of a young man aged before and after twentv-three lessons. Date. Neck. Chest Contract.Expjind. R. R .\rm. Ft rearm. Wai-t. irs. in‘^. in^. in-. in-. in-. 2H/10^o;t I4i| :4i;i 30 Uh !()• lu i2n:t 14} 1.') lU 30 R. Thivh. ins R. Calf. in^. i:d NVeijiht. St. lb-. II 11 11 11 The great fault about physical drill is that it is unin- teresting. It is a lighter lesson than the others, and lK*tler liked. But still it is a lesson and no recreation, (iriesbach and Wagner’ found with the a‘sthesiometer that it did not ])ercej)tibly ini]nove the cutaneous sensation which greatly deteriorates with intellectual fatigue, and Kemsies found with the ergograj)h that an hour's ])hysical drill was as exhausting as an hour’s mathematics. Mr. Shar]>les- says that the insiitution of foot bp 11 competitions for elementary schools, w Inch is entirely owing to the school teachers—I believe there are no more devoted }M'oj)le in the countrv—has done more for the boys than all the drills and calisthenics put together. I think he is ]>er- fectly right. Mr. Wickham says practically the same thing. But no one would compare ])hysical drill bn* a moment to games. It is a necessary supplement to gomes, and it is the more necessary the fewer games there are. It cannot ]K)ssibly take their ])lace. (4) (JVMXASTRJS in which bars, ro|K*s, horses, and other fixed aj)]>aratus are em])loyed, should not be taught seriously to children under 14. Their muscles are not strong enough, and they strain themselves. But there is ixothing they enjoy more than fooling about with a few rojH^s and swings, and this, which Mr. Wickham' calls the monkey- hous(* use of the gymmvsium, is a Hrst-rate form of ])lay. When seriously taught, gymnastics ])roduce great ])recision of movement, develo]) tlie shoulders well, and give ‘ Parez on the Measurement of ^l»•r^tal Fatigue in (lermany. Pari. Pap. Spec. Reports, lOOi, Vol. XX VII., p. 5*J8. = Pari. Pap.. 1M'.I8. Vol. XXIV., p. l.»’>9. » Pari. Pap.. P.»i)0. Vol. XXII., p. .TJ7.