THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN DIVISION OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION—MEN GYMNASIUM MADISON March 3, 1942 Mr. Forrest C, Allen Director of Physical iducation and Recreation University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas My dear lir. Allen: Mr. Lowman has asked me to reply to your letter of pciiicininy 23, Since I have been working with a committee on the reorganization of our physical education setup for next year. The committee appointed by President Dykstra to correlate military science and physical education will propose to the general faculty at the April meeting a four-year requirement for all under- graduate male students. At present we have no compulsory requirement for physical educa- tion for men, as the state legislature passed a compulsory R.0.T.C. bill requiring all freshmen and sophomores to take R.O.T.C. Under this program the Physical “ducation Vepartment handles only such students as are rejected from R.O.T.C. As an emergency service the department is offering three courses for one academic credit each this semester. First Aid, Life Saving, and Physical Fitness. We have enrolled about 150 students in First Aid, 25 in Life Saving, and 25 in Physical Fitness. We nice also offered optional courses in physical fitness, etc., but the response has been very poor. It is fairly evident that. to do a job in physical education or physical fitness it can accomplish its purpose only if compulsory. - Under the plan for a four-year requirement, we plan to coordinate all phases of our program: intercollegiate athletics, intercollegiate sports classes, intramurals, and service program. We’ expect to get some assistance from our junior and senior professional course students; all sports coaches will nando sports classes in their respective sports. All students will be given a physical fitness, as well as motor ability and sports knowledge test. This test will qualify the students for assignment to the physical activity program. The program for freshmen, except for those electing freshman sports, will probably be a fitness program. I would be glad if you would hold the above information confidential for the time being until such time as our faculty approves the setup. ae €. you s, of: Pree L alee of Physical Edueation oo