UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia

Department of
Physical Education

March 13, 1942

Dr, Forrest C. Allen

Director of Physical Education and Recreation
University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

Dear “Phog"s

Your letter of February 23rd has been before me for some time.
I am glad to give you the information — and had ~~ to get it
to you sooner, .

The University of Pennsylvania has had a four-year requirement
in Physical Education for all undergraduates since 1904. Students are
required to engage in Physical Education in at least two classes per
week or fulfill the program of practically daily participation for candidates
for OTR See |

For @ good many years military work was accepted as a oteittinee
for this requirement. That practice was instituted years ago although
many of us were convinced that military education, no matter how good, is
not Physical Education. This practice had been permitted to continue in
spite of periodic opposition by members of our staff. However, following
the declaration of War on December 7th, a new conference was held with the
heads of our Military and Naval R.O.T.C. Units at which a joint agreement
was entered into by which all members of the R.O.T.C. Units are also required
to fulfill the Physical Education requirement in addition to their R.0.T.C.
work. At the same time our Department offered additional intensified courses
in swimming, boxing, wrestling, body building, road work and special intra-
mural athletics for men who are NT to enter the service of their country.

More recently, the University faculty has requested that requirement
in Physical Education be extended to three periods per week instead of two
for all undergraduates. This is to begin with the opening of the accelerated
course on Jume 22, 1942, 4 ce ra