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6
The teaching of games is made a part of the educational
course in Germany. Usually a large field is
obtained to which scholars are taken twice a week and are
there instructed in games by the teachers, who receive extra
remuneration. In this country boys usually learn games
for themselves, but for girls some instruction of this Kind
is needed.
Exercises axe usually given on variations of the
Swedish system, but an important part of the Swedish
system is neglected in this country. In Sweden all children
are medically examined, measured, and weighed, with
their clothes off, at the beginning and end of each term,
and records are kept showing the progress in development
of each child so that the effect of the different exercises
can be rightly gauged. It is always advisable that the
teachers should acquire the exercises and themselves teach
the children. At least twenty minutes a day should be given
to such exercises, and tins need not be considered as time
lost to other branches of learning, Mr. Paget having shown
long ago, by experiment in a country school where half the
children worked their full time in the classroom and the
other half worked only half time at books and half at
gardening, that in the examination those who spent all the
time at books were hopelessly beaten.
Dumb bells, wands, and skipping ropes may be used
in exercises with great advantage. Flat shoes should be
provided for the exercises, and the drills are greatly
enhanced in brightness if the girls are set to work to make
suitable uniforms in which to carry them out. This was
done in a Board School under Miss Kingston, with cheap
blue serge dresses trimmed with red twill. Swimming is
a heathful summer exercise. I should like to see a large
open-air swimming pond made in the low-lying and almost
useless land adjoining the Hogg's Mill Stream near the
rifle butts. Dressing places, protected by trees and shrubs,
could be arranged for both boys and girls, so that the water
might- be free to swimmers at all times. Shallow at one
end and deep at the other, it would be suited for children