University of Nanking - Linguist Yearbook (Nanking, China)

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.54 PHYSICAL EDUCATION team-race. The others are waving arms and legs in frantic excitement when suddenly she stumbles headiirst, and rolls there in a helpless attempt to rise. At last o11e violent roll accomplishes its purpose, she struggles to her feet, and pants her way to her goal. The others only howl with glee, and most cheerfully accept their gain or loss through the mishap- These wads and wads do not seem to detract from the enjoyment, and at times they really add to the output of physical exertion. The actual drawback is, of course, that there are no other clothes into which to change, and no shower-baths to cleanse the little heated bodies. This is a fault that can be remedied only in school where a uniform and gymnasium facilities are to bc had. Many of our own day schools at home can not boast of these, so we should not reckon these as drawbacks peculiar to China. The slow hard pull in this WOI'k will come when one tries, little by little, to change the health-habits of these girls. They do not know that i' Some little germ will get them someday, if they donit watch out, That in itself- is perhaps not important, but the truth is that there is a total lack of healthy habits in their lives. I need not emphasize P, V to those wl1o live in China the need of instruction in such habits, for daily before our eyes the appalling results of its lack are paraded. One wonders where to begin. Yet, when one learns that tooth-brushing is fairly well established among school girls, and when one fears the little ones will burst in their earnest attempt to obey the command to ffgtgmd tall, one takes hope. The very fact that the task is so stupendous makes it well worth one's best efforts. The field is ready, the task is inspiring, yet the laborers-they are so few: . . ,RMT 3 w. I ii.-I in 557' ta

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THE LINGUIST 53 Nature, in the girl, has for years been thwarted. She has been kept bllsy most of the day caring for the little brothers and sisters. When she has been free to play, her feet have pained her too much to allow much really vigorous sport. But one has only to note how eagerly she hovers about the peep-shows at New Year time, or with what delight she parades her pretty lantern, to realize that the spirit of play is yet strong within her. It takes only a visit to the schools wl1ere the girls are given illstruction in play, to appreciate from their rapturous yells how the instinct of play longs for expression. The girls of China who have been S0 cramped physically by their bound feet, and mentally and morally by the general attitude toward their sex, remind one of a child who samples the contents of the jam jar with a grimy linger, and upon finding the taste good, puts his whole fist to diligent work. . Yes, the approach is easy, for they are ready for us. The handicaps are not to be found, as one might suppose, in a mental inability to grasp the point of a game, nor in the lack of true sportsmanship, and certainly not in lack of zeal. Perhaps you would guess that one handicap in winter is those wads and wads and wads of clothes! But just watch a while! That little girl with the impossible name. starts to run her lap in the Photo by lllflssion Photo Bureau and the New

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RELIGIOU EDUCATION IN THE CHOOLS OF CHI A N a sense all missionary work is religious education. But what I wish to speak of in particular is the teaching of religion in classes of all Sorts from primary school to college. One who has been in China so short fl time as the writer has scarcely a right to opinions, except from the Stondpoint of one deeply interested in religious education at home and the efforts put forth to make it more efficient. It is perhaps true, however, that a newcomer who has any insight into the problem as a whole can see the outstanding facts in the situation here more clearly just because he is Hot yet swamped by the details. There are four things I should like to say. First, the teaching of religion is the most important task on the missionary field. This is undoubtedly the era for education, and the students are to be tl1e great power in the future of China. It is desirable, of course, that the best methods of agriculture, sericulture, the treatment of leather, and all kinds of scientific investigation should be brought here. The industrial situation and the sanitary conditions call for it, the commercial and international problems of the day demand it. But underneath it all is the spiritual Condition of the country which above everything else calls for something religiously enlightening, taught in the simplest, clearest, and most forceful Way. If President Stuart of Peking University is right in saying that the alternative in China is not the Christian religion or some other religion but the Christian religion or atheism, then it behooves missionaries to gather up their teaching forces to present religion in a way that will appeal to modern students. The testimony gathered as I have visited cities and talked with sound educators of various faiths and orders is that religious education is the weakest plank in the whole educational platform. Surely this ought not so to be. Of course the question which quickly comes is why is it so? And that brings out the second point I wish to emphasize very strongly. i55l