PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3911, 6 September 1875, Page 3

PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

To the Editor, Sir, — I was pleased to see in your issue of the Ist inst. a letter on the above subject by “ Paterfamilias,” as I feel deeply interested in the matter, and think that all parents would be so if they knew the benefits to bo derived from a proper course of physical training. I can, notwithstanding the meanness of our Government arrangements for such training, point to a number of individuals whose ages range from ten to thirty-five years, whose physique has been completely changed by the training of Mr Long : and when I state that the chests of some of those persons referred to have been expanded to the extent of as much as two, three, and even four inches in as many months, with a proportional development of their muscles, the benefit to each must be obvious,

Now, with reference to the cost to the country of a gymnasium to every school, and, as “Paterfamilias” says, swimming baths, it would be a more trifle compared to tire benefits the public would derive from such institutions, and, in view of the limited extent of our school playgrounds, I would, to quote the words of one of the Committee of the High School of Glasgow, when awarding the prizes in 1867, state that “ the practical teaching of gymnastics and fencing is at once an education, a recreation, and a physical exercise of the highest sanitary value, and that in having added a gymnasium to the school the committee had placed as much healthful and useful enjoyment within the reach of the pupils as if they (the committee) had added many acres to the play-ground.” Then, again, the question of economy. Gould not one professor arrange to vidt each school as our drill-instructor does at present? I believe it is only necessary to have sufficient room to take the whole of the boys in one class at once, and the girls in another, and I am sure that Mr Long would, as lie has hitherto done, arrange for the convenience of youths and adults who are employed during the day.— I am, &c,,

Interested. Dunedin, September 4.