Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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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

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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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natural effflrts Value the in. IGP char. Hraeter, her, and 'S Gnd is Sports to. ld be led uning by to prove r in both r growth, evidence the com- alm equi- 't toward erve and advance .cal Edu' rivilegCS if attain' JRDON. Mature Stubv. St. Louis Exposition as last year'.s edition of the QFF15iiRINGi exhibit illustrated the course in Nature Study as arranged' by? V K Mr. A. C. Boyden and pursued in this school. it vvas planned with considerable care so as to show, educators and teachers generally the fundamental principles governing the-work and its distribu- tionein. different grades. . . - -, i -Q . One of the educational journals commenting on the Nature 'Study Exhibit said5 The exhibit from' the Model School at Bridgewater is pre- eminently the fullest and richest and the mostcarefully- prepared nature work in the whole educational exhibit. It was arranged under the person- al supervision of Mr. Arthur C. Boyden,'who.for twenty-tive years has been an enthusiast in nature Work and is -today the leading exponent of Nature Study in -Massachusetts. it it it it Mr. Boyden has brought to his work not only the requisite scientiiic knowledge but a fine appreciation of' the principles underlyingzthe grtowth of the child mind, and of the limita- tions and capacities of children. S - 4 .r . ' Itfis understood-that a gold niedal and adiploma are to be forth. coming to Mr. Boyden and the school respectively as tokens of the success of the work as planned and executed, BRENELLE HUNT. 25 HE .MGDEL Schoolexhibit which was being forwarded thef was going to press took the first prize in that subject. Thei