Allen -

Dunkel-

Allen=

RADIO PROGRAM
PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR HEALTH

February 3, 1938
"POSTURE FOR PERSONAL APPEARANCE"

Miss Dun@¥l1, I have often heard somo professors in physical education and cer-
tain physicians state that posture has very little to do with health. I do
not agree with this statement, because proper posture emphasizes the two
primary and the two secondary normal curves of the spines In correct posture
the thoracic area of the body provides a more fulsome space for the heart,
lungs and other vital organs in that area, and in the lumbar and sacral
regions proper posture allows the necessary areas for the correct relationship
of the abdominal and pelvic organse And no less important is the function of
these same normal curves in dissipating the jar and shock of walking and
moving about. I think it is interesting to note that the engineer has

adopted the same plan which Nature uses for distributing and absorbing

shock. The arches of a bridge span do that job just as the arches of the
back and feet do it for the human structure.

Of course we folks in Physical Education are oxpected to be posture conscious,
but I always pick up my ears when I hear people outside our field mention it.
Yesterday Professor W. H. Johnson strolled by whore we were enrolling students
in Physical Education, and said to me, "Say, Miss Dunkul, tell me - is there
any place in this University where a student can get a course in porsonality?"
I thought at first he mcant some course in psycholory. But then he went on to
say, "I mean by that where they can learn poise and balance and how to handle
thomselyes graciously and nicoly." "Well," I said, "That should be a part of
physical education, and according to my ideal of physical education it should
be taught fn all our courses, whether they be swimming, hockey, dancing, or
basketball. Fundamental rules of correst mechanical use of the body are the
foundation of our skill courses." And@ then he went on, "Well, I have just
often wondered, because I think it is important for everybody to stand well.
How you carry yourself has a lot to do with what people think of you, how

you wear your clothes, and general appearance."

Exactly, Miss Dung . Professor Johnson, for a years a professor in the
School of Education, appreciates these principals because he has followed
thom. I am wondering how many people would debt: with us the question that
proper posture is not helpful to personal appearance. Suppose we considor
the athlete, tho actor, the happy, buoyant soul, and the dejected, sorrowful
individual, What has beon your experience, Miss Dynkel, in posture for per-
sonal appearance? °

Dunkel--Any work that necessitates an sudienco obviously makes appearanco very im~

portant. Probably no group of individuals are as mich in tho limelight as
those in the theater. I've heard Rolla Nuckle, an instructor in the Depart-
ment of Speech and Dramatic Art, say - "It is difficult for me to believe

that anyone should say that posture has little to do with personal appearance.
In the theater, whero we portray every typo of person, posture is the phys-
ical and obvious manifostation of the character which the audience seese