Ze
through the appreciative patrons of the schools that Lawrence seninen may speak
up in their behalf. Lawrence is proud of her aint system and of course the
_ teachers are responsible for the high sieutine that Lawrence enjoys.

The matter of general education is but one phase of the crisis.
The physical fitness of our youth a been plaguing the country in a most
embarrassing situation. Out of Washing ton yesterday came the following statement:
Runes The office of education today announced three regional institutes on
physical fitness among students, in addition to a three-day institute which started
yesterday at the University oP suk in Austin, One of the three will be at the
Jayhawk Hotel, Topeka, Kan., March 7, 8, 9; local chairman, Strong Hinman, |
assistant superintendent of schools, Topeka. The institutes are a part of a war-
time drive for physical fitness of students in schools and colleges, which started
in November, 1942, because ssloctive service figures showed a high percentage of
rejections among registrants 18 and 19 years old. The campaign is sponsored by
the office of education with the cooperation of the army, navy and federal
security agency, committee on physical fitness. Alb those groups are represented
on the faculties of the institutes in addition to local physical fitness leaders.
Unquotee }

Certainly our university, college and public school administrators
will have to assume some responsibility for their short-sightedness in not
enforcing a more efficient physical fitness program during the pre-war days. Many
educators held to the belief that physical conditioning should be optional. This :
is a great mistake. A thoroughbred horse or a thoroughbred dog is exercised daily
because the owner considers him a valuable animal. Seven-eighths of the returned

circulation of the blood to the heart is through muscular exercise. Certainly ~

growing youth should be exposed to a scientific and sane physical fitness programe