UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
LAWRENCE

DIVISION OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Dre Forrest C. Allen “2 Octe 30, 1937.

I know of many coaches in the state of Kansas who
have questioned me concerning & MeA. degree here at KeU. Many
of them have been forced to attend other schools to get their
advanced degrees. I merely quote that to show that there is de-
finitely a growing demand for M.A. degrees and since we will have
the men qualified to give advanced degrees, why then I believe we
should have a graduate course in physical education.

I might mention here that I am planning to get my doctor's
degree in physical education, which will give our department four
doctorates, ise, yours, Dre Lapp's, Prof. Elbel's and my own.

Concerning my present work here at the university. I am
teaching classes in swimming, fencing, boxing and I have also taught
tennis, and handball. In fencing I am the originator of the American
School of Fencing. It is primarily a different method of instruction
in fencing. I have divorced my method from the old European schools
such as the Italien, French and Spanish schools with their "fencing
masters" and have given fencing an American psychological approach
in my teaching methods. At present I am writing up my American school
of fencing and will have it published as soon as it is completed. As
you probably kmow, using my American method, I coached and taught the
members of the KeU. fencing team both in 1935 and last year through
undefeated seasonse

In teaching my classes I try to emphasize two things. The
first is the individual difference and second the situation. For example
in boxing I take the individual and try to understand his particular
physical and pscyhological makeup and then give him instruction in boxing
by showing him how and also the situations in which the Bundamental boxing
technique may be used to the greatest advantage so that he gets a whole
related picture and not isolated elements. Last year using this method
I was able to teach and coach the Haskell Indians to an unusually success-
ful season. In fact my team won 5 golden glove championships at Topeka,
one state championship and one of my boys was semi-finalist in the
National A. Ae Ue Also we chalked up five wins over other teams.

In swimming I am a holder of an American Red Cross Senior Life
Saving Certificate. In 1935 I was chosen as a member of the All Big Six
Conference swimming team and listed in the Spalding swimming record of
that year. I hold a championship in one-wall handball (intramural all-
university competition 1935) and in clay court tennis play.