Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1917 — Giving of Adequate Physical Training to Children, Duty of Nation [ARTICLE]

Giving of Adequate Physical Training to Children, Duty of Nation

By CHARLES W. ELIOT

Former President of Harvard University

This country needs a citizens’ army and navy of a thoroughly democratic sort, trained under conditions which would interfere as little as possible with the industries of the country. But it is of the utmost consequence that up to the twentieth year whatever training may he given to the boys and girls, which would be available later for the young soldiers and sailors, should also be equally available in the industries And homes of the country. The giving of adequate physical training to all children ds a national interest, both in peace and in war; and it is therefore justifiable that the national government should spend part of the income it raises by taxation in contributing to and making sure of that physical training. This is precisely what the Swiss Federation does. It makes am all contributions to the training whichthecantongandminiicipalities supply in all Swiss schools; and then it maintains a body of inspectors to make sure that the work is really done. I submit that that would be a valuable new function for the department of the interior through its 1 . ... - i»iiiirrn ■ ■■■ ■ iiinnißini ni iiii ■—i i»n i iniiTifniTiMJiTW’iifn bureau of education. With this function there will be associated another of national importance —aid to practical training in agriculture, personal hygiene, public health, diet, and the household arts —in all American schools of every grade, with national inspection of the work done. All this instruction ,is in the interest of the entire nation, without distinction of section, race or religion; and it ought not io be left to the discretion of the states and municipalities without government supervision, jit is a strong case of “each for all and all for each.”