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hours for girls' gymnastics . The societies which lid most in this direction were those of Plauen, Leipzig, and Dresden. In these cities gymnastics for children reached a high standard of excellence.Gymnastic societies developed in Saxony especially during the period Prom 1843 to 1848. Fifty-four nourishing societies sent delegates to the convention of gymnasts who met November 1, 1846, in Dresden. At this time the society at Dresden was the largest; it assumed a leading position by affording an example for imitation in its admirable organization to all other societies in the Kingdom. Many of its members aidedenergctically the periodical. The Gymnast Der Turner,which was first issued in January, 1846. This publication was so well conducted and found so much favor that during the second German gymnastic festival, held in Frankfort-on-tbe-Main in 1847, the paper was made the official gymnastic organ of entire Germany. The society in Dresden also arranged for two courses for the training of gymnastic teachers. The society's propositions to the minister of education concerning the establishment of a state training school for gymnastic teachers found official approval. Tho minister announced as early as March 16, 1849That he considered it his imperative duty to give gymnastics a place of equal importance with other brunches of public education; that, therefore, he had concluded to establish a training school for gymnastic teachers who could conduct such exercises in the light of pedagogic science, and that he had ordered the necessary preparation for tho opening of such a school.At Easter of 1840 the institution was to be opened, but the iusurrection which took place during the following May prevented the execution of this plan. Not until October 23, 1850, was the institution formally opened, and the principal, Moritz Kloss who afterwMichael Kors Outlet ard became favorably known through his tireless and meritorious exertion in behalf of gymnastics, was introduced into his new office.The insurrection mentioned was the cause of preventing the contemplated introduction of gymnastics into the lower schools. Many noted gymnasts from the different societies for physical culture had participated in the insurrection popularly styled the revolution of 1848-49, and after it was quelled an undiscriminating reactionary movement against gymnastic societies was inaugurated, so that the heretofore remarkable development of gymnastic art was checked. At many places it was entirely destroyed, and its practitioners were pursued with relentless severity. At the close of the sixth decade life in gymnastic societies took a fresh impetus. When preparations were made for the thirdnational gymnastic festival, to be held in Leipzig in 1803, the Saxon societies for physical, culture began a vigorous activity, which secured the success of the national festival and the societies' subsequent existence. The wars of 1804 with Denmark and 1800 with , Austria impaired the activity of the gymnastic societies in Germany but little, and the glorious war of 1870 offered the Saxon gymnasts opportunities, botli in the field and at home, for giving energetic expression to their patriotism Political discussions have been prohibited on principle in the Saxon gymnastic societies. This has enabled them to grow undisturbed by police authority. At present there is in Saxony no city or good sized village without at least one gymnastic society, even many small settlements have a society of that kind. A statistical enumeration of January 1,1892, records 015 cities and towns with 757 gymnastic societies that have 87,388 members over 14 years of age. Of these, 51,901 are active gymnasts, led by 4,597 Vorttirnerleaders of sections. If we consider the fact that the entire empire had at the same date 4,507 societies with 447,040 members, of whom 227,028 were active gymnasts, it is seen that the Kingdom of Saxony occupies the sixth place in regard to the number of societies, the 58 |
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and enjoyed that must he given to our children, and the spirit of their popular gymnastics must lie raised up again. But this is no partial spirit, it submits to no influence from the popular festivals. On the contrary, these, if genuine, are only the expression of the prevalence of it. It must bo just as universally active and visible in households, in schools, in the labor of the held, in Sunday sports, and in amusements, as on the Alps and at the shepherds' festivals. It must appear in tliuopinious of the people respecting their corporeal necessities, and in the care for them. The attainment of this object is entirely impossible, unless there is awakened in the young, from childhood up, and made universal, a lofty, active, and independent sense of power, and this will inspire the child of itself to all which is desirable for the salvation of the fatherland.1Pestalozzi introduced physical exercises in his famous institute at Yverdun in 1807. As sensible as his views were on the general utiliMichael Kors Outlet ty of gymnastics, when he came to reduce them to a practical system his methods were, to say the least, unique. All the movements were directed, not to the muscles, but to the joints. He says:The essence of elementary gymnastics consists in nothing else than a series of exercises for the joints, by which is learned, from step to step, all that a child can learn with respect to the structure and movements of his body and its articulations. He can acquire this knowledge in the quickest and easiest way by means of these questions: What motions can I make with each separate limb of my body and with each separate joint of it f » How can the movements of several limbs and several joints be combiued togetherfFELLENBERU'S SCHOOL AT IIOFWYL.Physical training received a prominent place in the Principles of Education of Fellenberg, whose agricultural school at Hofwyl is declared by Henry Barnard to have exerted a wider influence than any other one institution in Europe or America during the present century. Fellenberg says:A great variety of exercises of the body and the senses are employed to prepare our pupils for the fulfillment of their destination. It is by means of such exercises that every mau should acquire a knowledge of his physical strength and attain confidence with regard to those efforts of which ho is capable, instead of that foolhardiness which endangers the existence of many who have not learned to estimate their own powers correctly.Pure air, a suitable diet, regular exercise and1 Barnard's Journal of Education, vol. , p. 193.repose, and a proper distribution of time arc the principal means of physical education. It is as essential that a pupil leave his studies during the time appropriated as that ho may study during tho hours devotod to that purpose.Voluntary exercise is to be encouraged by providing suitable games, by affording opportunities for gardening, by excursions, and by bathing. Regular gymnastic exercises should be insisted on as a moans of developing the body. A healthy action of the bodily frame has an important influence on both mind and morals.FRIEDIUOH LUDWIG JAHN AND THE TURNERS.All these thingsthe discussions concerning Rousseau, the work and the writings of the Philanthropists, the books of Gutsinuths and Vieth, the reports of the institutions of Pestalozzi and Fellenberg, and the efforts of Nachtegall in Denmarkserved to advertise bodily exercise, and to educate the public mind to an appreciation of its value. There was still lacking, however, that popular enthusiasm and that general participation in its practice without which it might soon have relapsed into its former state of somnolence. But the way was prepared for the Father of Modern Gymnastics, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. This man was of rugged, aggressive nature, but withal possessed of a strong personal magnetism that gave bim a wonderful hold over his disciples and made him one of the most popular men of his time. The story of his work is best told in his own words:'During the beautiful 52 |
