PHYSICAL EXERCISES.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3694, 27 October 1880, Page 2

PHYSICAL EXERCISES.

In many schools, board schools particularly, military drill has been introduced. But this is not sufficient. It might even, be shown that the drill of the soldier does not develop equally all parti of the body, bnt tends to make it stiff and unwieldly. Apart, howerer, from this objection, it is not adapted to young children and girls—those who really require the most attention in this respect. Then there is another objection to the military drill, and one wbien will prevent it from being generally adopted in schools. I refer to the faot that many object to drill because they think it tends to cultivate a military spirit in children. The objection may appear a weak one in some; but there it is, and there it will remain, and probably grow stronger and stronger so long as we see such evils exist as arise from the large armaments of Continental States. Then: on more than one school board the military drill is objected to on account of its cost, drill instructor's salary making considerable addition to board school expenses, everywhere already high enough. What is wanted is a system of gymnastics at once simple and inexpensive; and these we have in a system largely in vogue in , the schools in the United States, where the corporeal development of, the young is not lost sight of in the ardour for intellectual education. The system referred to is a modification of that of Dr Dio Lewis of Boston. AnJ American gentle* man was recently observing some pah) and puny-looking school children, and asked if in our English schools there was no system of gymnastics practised. . The answer that such a thing was an exception rather than a rule surprised him, and he described the simple but efficient method of giving the boys and girls exercise in the primary school in which he was educated in Philadelphia. The class rooms were all on one floor, and were simply separated from each other by large sliding glass doors. At a signal, given by the head master twice a day, that is in the middle of the morning and afternoon

school, the doors were thrown open, boys and girls stepped to the wall, wham wands were arranged iv racks, took one each, and fell into line in the middle of the floor; then one of the teachers went to the piano and played a simple tune, to which the wand exercises were performed. •' Five or ten minutes of these exeroitu morning and afternoon," _said the gentleman, "had a wonderful effect in wakening us up and putting fresh vigour | into our studies. Perhaps towards .thVj middle of the afternoon we ; would her getting heavy and sleepy, when a boat with the wands woke as up for the rest of the day, and' instead of being, an obstruction to school work it vu actually an aid to it; for direotly the master's bell sounded, the wands were replaced in the racks, and doors were swung into their places again, and work went on as qnietly and as orderly as if nothing to interrupt it had taken place." This is just what is wanted in our English schools.—Phrenological Magazine. "

Victoria has one Cabinet Minister for each 100,000 inhabitants; New South Wales, one for each 81,600; New Zealand, one for each 58,000; Queensland, one for each 36,400;, South Australia, one for each 43,300; and Tasmania, one for each 28,200. Altogether, these six oonstitutional colonies hare 42 Cabinet Mini* sters for a population numbering 2,686,961 at the close of last year, with salaries aggregating £53,950. 1 The present Glad, stone Administration consists of 14 Cabinet Ministers, with alaries aggregating, as nearly as one can ascertain, £57,925, for a population.whilch could not hara been much below 35(000,000 at the close of last year/ i? This is the latest** wedding inritations in Boston—" 0 >me around and see us capture a mot! er-in-law, at eight o'clock, sharf." .