Health and Physical Fitness in
Colleges and Universities

Report Adopted by the ‘
U. S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION WARTIME COMMISSION
September 1, 1942

HE Educational Policies Commission has pub-
lished the statement that, ‘‘the health, safety, and
physical education program in the elementary
and secondary schools and in higher institutions,
should be given a high order of priority among com-
peting educational interests.” In a study conducted
by the American Council: on Education and the Na-
tional Committee on Education and Defense, the first
generalization drawn from the interviews with officers
of the armed services relating to pre-induction training
needs for enlisted men was that, “a more definite and
consistent program for physical fitness should be de-
veloped and required of all students.” The resolutions
and recommendations adopted by the National Confer-
ence of College and University Presidents held in Bal-
timore on January 4, 1942, included the statement,
“that all colleges and universities should take such
steps as will be necessary to bring each individual
student to his highest possible level of physical fitness.”
The Divisional Committee on Higher Education of
the Wartime Commission authorized N. P. Neilson to
serve as chairman of a committee to study the problem
and bring in a report. On May 7, 1942, a letter was
sent to the officials of twelve national professional or-
ganizations and to selected individuals in thirty-five
colleges and universities asking them to submit their
recommendations to the chairman of the committee.
The chairman summarized the recommendations re-
ceived and on September 1, 1942, the United States
Office of Education Wartime Commission adopted the
following report. 2

General Statements

Physical fitness has a direct relationship to national
defense. Good programs for health, physical educa-
tion, and recreation yield important results related to
physical fitness and hence to national defense whether
the individual is to serve at the war front, in industry,
or at home.

The term “fitness of the individual” or “fitness pro-
gram” might well be substituted forthe term “physical
fitness” to avoid prolonging the false concept of mind
and body as separately functioning parts of the organ-
ism. Hence, ‘physical fitness” in a broad sense is
health; it involves the prevention of disease, the cor-
rection of remediable defects, good nutrition, muscular

strength, endurance, basic motor skills, mental health,
and morale. A person is said to be physically fit when
he is free from handicapping defects and infections,
practices good mental hygiene, and has the knowledge,
skills, strength, and endurance to engage successfully
in the activities which life demands of him. In time
of war life demands on the human organism are greater
than in times of peace.

siological differences among living organisms must
be recognized. All men and women are not born equal
in structure and function and there is no known
method by which all persons can develop an equal
degree of strength, skill, and endurance. It follows,
therefore, that there will always be a necessary differ-
entiation between those displaying a high degree of
fitness and those with lesser degrees. No stigma
should be attached to the latter group unless there is
demonstrated neglect, indifference, and unwillingness
to achieve the highest fitness possible.

To attain physical fitness there must be a complete

medical examination of the individual to determine
his physical structure and capacity.

After this initial
examination, a program to provide for the necessary
correction of physical defects and faulty health prac-
tices and the improvement of physical development
can be carried out. No matter how vigorously a pro-
gram of physical development by exercise alone is
pursued this cannot compensate for inherent or acquired
structural and physiological abnormalities. On the
other hand the complete correction of physical defects
will not build organic power; this can be built only
through physical education activities of great intensity
and duration.

Health Service

The function of the student health service program
in colleges and universities is two-fold: first, the im-
mediate care of ills and maladjustments; and second,
the directing of student thought and habits into a sane
and balanced regime of living. It is recommended
that:

1. A thorough health examination, medical and
dental, be made of all students (a) upon entrance,
(b) periodically thereafter, and (c) after each confin-
ing illness.

2. The seasonal examination of all varsity and intra-

Reprinted from HeattH anv PuysicaL Epucation, October 1942—J305