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men to acquire skills in recreative activities of a nature to be found in military
encampments, in order that their lives there may be more varied and tolerable. The
college department should also provide opportunities for certain qualified students
to acquire skills in the leadership of recreative and athletic activities of a type
which are useful in military camps. It is also recommended that as soon as possible
the colleges require a four year program of health, physical education and recreation
of each student enrolled.

The proposed American Legion program is intended to give leadership,
financial support and promotional service to schools and communities in order to
elevate the general health and physical welfare of the entire citizenship. This
program is organized to operate through a national committee, a national advisory
committee and state committees. An advisory committee is to be selected in each
state, and in each community, and is to be composed of leaders in the field of
health, physical education and recreation, and persons prominent in allied fields
of interest, and civic affairs. It is intended that the Legion cooperate with,
supplement and provide leadership for already existing programs, lend unified
support to tax levies for recreational and health purposes, and otherwise aid in
promoting in the community a sound and diversified program.

The American Social Hygiene Association is conducting an intensive and
much needed program of activities designed to control social diseases in the vicin-
ity of military encampments. ‘The underworld is already organized to prey upon the
newly created citizen army, and every thinking person must be concerned with this
problem. The government, as well as local and national welfare organizations, must
bend every effort to return these young men to theirs homes in better health than
when they were called to the colors. Through programs of education, enforcement ,
prophylaxis, recreation, and legislation, the Amerisen Social Hygiene Association
is assuming this burdensome task. Schools and colleges in the vicinity of military
camps can assist by cooperating with local and military authorities in educational
and recreational enterprises designed to aid in stamping out social diseases wher-
ever they exist.

In analyzing the provisions of each of the above programs, and in weigh-
ing the proposals of other plans under consideration for national preparedness, one

is impressed with the eagerness and intelligence with which this problem of health
and physical welfare is being attacked. To date, however, the government has shown
little interest or encouragement to those engaged in these various important enter-
prises. If in time to come, the United States succumbs to the attacks of invaders

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from foreign lands, it will not be because of the failure of educational and civic

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Teaders to foresee the needs of the nation, nor to their failure to propose adequate
programs designed to forestall this possibility. Bach group, working more or less

independently, has arrived at somewhat similar conclusions. If it is possible to
state specific trends in general terms, it might be said that these proposed
programs agree in the following respects:

 

 

The health and physical fitness of men in the present 21 to 55 year age
group has probably improved little, if any, over that of a similar group 25 years
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An intensified program of physical work and physical education is needed
to offset the disadvantages of modern existence.

The amount of time spent in properly organized and conducted programs of
school and community health, physical education and recreation should be increased.