ee.

le Strength, endurance, stamina, and bodily coordination.

2. Physical skills that will be of direct value and use in
the armed forces and war work.

Initiating the Program

 

In fitting the physical fitness program into the total program of a
school it is necessary that there be provided the minimum essentials of (1)
adequate time in the daily schedule, (2) a competent teacher, (3) a place for
conducting the classes, and (4) at least a minimum amount of supplics and
equipment.

The initiation of the program on a nation-wide basis will demand an
expenditure of time, effort and money. It promises, however, reasonable cor-
teinty of attaining the objective of maximum physical fitness for the partici-
pants. Basically it calls for but two changes in the usual high school pro-
gram. The first is an increase in teaching time alloted to instruction in
physical education, and the second change is an increase in the intensity of
the exercises.

Adaptation of Program for Small Communitics.

A proposed program is flexible enough to permit schools of all.types,
including large and small urban and rural schools, to maks such adaptations as
will enable them to underteke it. Many of the activitics can be conducted
without apparatus or equipment, but the greater valuos should be expected where
at least a minimum amount of supplies and equipment are provided, end adequate
buildings and playing fields are available. In cases of necessity, thore are
many activitics that can be practiced during inclement weather in school build-
ings that do not have gymmcsiums. The maximum uso and adaptation should be
made of corridors, classrooms, basements, auditoriums, stages in suditoriums,
and paved outdoor courts in poorly equipped schools. Some of the activities
that can be used under unfavorable conditions are calisthenics, gymnastic stunts,
chinning, and the hanging half lever on removeblie bars in doorways or on bars
attached to brackets on the walls of corridors; the push-up; the sit-up; climb-
ing ropes suspended in corridors, auditoriums, or stages; the leg-lift; the
forwari-bend; jump and reach; standing broad jump on mats or other soft surfaces;
potste races in corridors, auditoriums, or basements; grip and chest exercises
that eam be practiced with low-cost spring or slastic equipment; and bar vault
in corridors, auditoriums, stages, or basements, where a safe bar and mats may
be provided.

There are many days during the cold winter months on which warmly
clothed children can participate in vigorous activitics out-of-doors. This is
particularly true in situations where there arc paved surfaces that cen be kept
free of snow, ice, mud and water. It is recommended, therefore, that paved
courts be provided where they seem to be needed and that a maximum use be made
of the outdoors for:physical education activities,

There are probably many communities in which existing facilities and
personnel can be used to supplement the school facilities and personnel in carry-
ing out the instructional and participation phases of the physical education
program. Consideration should be given to the possibility of cooperation between
schools, YMCA's, Athletic clubs, recreation department, granges and other commun-
ity agencies in planning and executing the school program of physical fitness,