Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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'St excel' C time of :ontinued Sium this .ll have 3, 3011 to fill r scholar- good bear- course in lic school thorough ad for use lied as to system of 5 in view. vork from mote thelf 5 the com- his should as to the 1 effective as mal' be nan h0I'SCn al V2l.ll.le as ice in the rmal Field ,nd Such a for 21 Qfi. tand :an Sp E HUNT' 1 llbbvsical Eoucation in Mormal Schools. HE YEAR 1905 marks an epoch in the educational annals of Bridgewater. It completes the fiftieth year of Mr. Boyden's connection with the Normal School and commemorates the event by dedicating the Boyden Gymnasium, which stands as a monument to do him honor. It also marks an epoch in the annals of Physical Education, from the fact that an educator of Mr. Boyden's repute, should spare no pains to obtain a gymnastic plant, second to none in the land, thus giving a practical demonstration of theitheoretical adQ mission of the highest educational authorities, that a physical basis is the essential foundation of education. I H y A course in Physical Training, suitable for a Normal School has its well defined needs, which are more or less hampered by limitations of time. It should not only improve, but establish the health of the student, in- crease his stren th and power of endurance train his higher co-ordinative g i functions, which lead to the formation of useful habits of action, enable him to conserve energy and divert it into the channels where it is most needed. It should provide him with a knowledge of the principles of gymnas- tics both theoretically and practically, and such knowledge should be based or of the anatomical and physiological functions O of the body, in order to make it possible for him to conduct classes in gymnastic exercises, in the various school grades. It should give him a general knowledge of school hygiene, so that he may lessen, where he cannot entirely overcome, the evils of the ordinary . . h school-room, and he should be prepared to deal intelligently with t e chool-life. on athorough understandin minor accidents and emergencies that arise in S Above all, it should furnish him with the power to know the children with whom he deals, so that he may be able to detect abnormalities of ' ' ' th d develo ment, as well sight and hearing and the asymmetries of grow an p as the more obvious deformities and pathological conditions. In addition to these requi toire of school-room games and athletic sports, for rements, the modern teacher mustebe equipped with a reper 23

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Gymnastics for the flben. T I-IAQ been a general source of regret that the most excel Mr Murdock should have been of necessity discontinued since 1897 With the opening of the new gymnasium th1s f work will be resumed, and the Normal minority will have a share in the work so long monopolized by the fair majority. The responsible public positions which the men are called upon to fill and the peculiar nature of their work and example call not only for scholar- ship and mental acumen but for men physically strong and of good bear- ing indicative of the sterling qualities of manhood. A rational course in lent course in gymnastics available to the men in the time of gymnastics should go far to insure the last named qualifications. As a professional school training men for the work of public school teaching, the course in gymnastics should include primarily a thorough training in Swedish gymnastics, the system pre-eminently adapted for use in the public schools. It should be so administered and studied as to make clear the needs of the children, the aims of an educational system of gymnastics and the special adaptibility of this system to the ends in view. Further than this the men's course should include selected work from other so-called systems so as to widen their Held of activity, promote their interest in the subject generally, and furnish data for studying the com- parative value of the different kinds of gymnastics available. This should help the men to go out with some power to judge intelligently as to the relative usefulness of each as a means to more complete and effective public school education. I refer in the foregoing to such work as may be done with dumb-bells, Indian clubs, wands, chest weights, German horse, parallel bars, et cetera. ' Gymnastic games, now conceded to be of marked educational value as well as means of healthful recreation, will have a definite place in the work as planned. It is to be hoped that the long neglected Normal Field Day may be revived in the near future, new records made, and such a healthy athletic sentiment established that this school may stand for a rat10nal interest in athletics and a devotion to legitimate and clean sport. T A BRENELLE HUNT. 2 2 . , s. .ti l-. x 'S -F13 ,Q My ...Q 4,-sy, iff? 5 If eve L. . , nf 4. HR gt. I :M yt. F. . sa . - .-,Q Q. 'A 41' ' . 1 x iktfwi-' ' when am1alS of 1'CpUlC, Shoui' in the land, ' mission of tl essential foui A cours' well defined ' lt should nf crease his stl functions, wl him to cons needed. lt shoul tics both the on athoroug' of the body gymnastic ei . It shoul may lessen, 1 School-room, mlllllf accide 'Aboveg with whom Sight and he aspllle more In addil illllhped wij

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s we find one of the most effectual means to a natural in well chosen .play . development of the human powers. Through them and the higher forms of athletics the child and youth give spontaneous and joyous expression to self activity, learn their relationship to their comrades and to respect the rights of others. The necessary determination and perseverance in efforts to reach a desired goal serve as a preparation to meet the grim realities of later life and overcome obstacles to success. I p ' In speaking of athletics, President Eliot of Harvard says: I value them not chiefly for their physical effect, though that is very valuable, but 'more for their moral effect, for their effect on the moral fibre of the in- dividual. Their great value comes from the fact that they develop char- acter and this is what counts. Indeed it is the development of character, which especially 'counts with the student who is to become a teacher, and the gymnastic and athletic training which fails to emphasize this end is meaningless. ' There should be a wise selection of all exercises, games and sports to be presented to the Normal student, and in all the games he should be led to study their educational value and develop their inherent meaning by clean, wholesome play. The opportunity should be afforded him to prove the intrinsic value of such games.as'Foot-ball and Basket-ball, for in both of them lie the germs of a vigorous development and character growth, when they are played with the highest form of self-control, the evidence of which is shown in the subordination of a selfish interest to the com- mon welfare, and the acceptance of defeat and victory with the calm equi- poise that comes from the knowledge of legitimate individual effort toward the desired end. It is peculiarly the province of the Normal Schools to preserve and purify our national games. Where so much has been done to advance the physical needs, it shall be the aim of the Department of Physical Edu- cation in Bridgewater, to realize in full measure the scope of the privileges and opportunities provided and to establish the highest standard of attain- ment in its various branches. ELIZABETH F.. GORDON. 1 24 planned generalll' tionfin. di One Exhibit 5 eminentlj work in t al superv been an 1 Nature S work not the princ tions and It-'is coming t. of the wc