Why do we teach gymnastics? / by Jakob Bolin.

  • Bolin, Jakob, 1863-1914.
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Why do we teach gymnastics? / by Jakob Bolin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that in itself it is injurious to depress the ribs or to flex the spine in any direction under the proviso made by Dr. Fitz. Like him, they believe that such movements tend to keep the parts flexible. Like him, they believe that these movements should be counteracted by move- ments in the opposite direction. They believe, however, that the daily work outside of the gymnasium is to a great extent such as to cause costal depression. They believe that the effects of this work are noticeable in the general appearance of the pupils. They believe that this is one of the habitual postures which remain uncor- rected. They believe that, for the average individual, there is no need of exercising in order to increase the amplitude of the ribs downward, the daily work taking ample care of that. They believe that the time given up to gymnastics in our schools is so brief that no time should be given to exercises which compress the chest, but in all exercises attention should be paid to things more necessary. Dr. Fitz says that the chest compres- sors must be counterbalanced by other movements. Very well! Counteract the chest compressors of daily life, but do not bring in any new ones which again need to be counteracted. Personally, I further claim that during a long his- torical period of gymnastic development this gymnastic doctrine was overlooked, except by the pupils of Ling. I claim that the old German Turner paid little or no heed to it. I claim that it was Rothstein’s warfare against the German methods which was the most potent factor in introducing good form in the German gym- nasia, thereby abolishing a whole series of “really harm- ful” movements. I claim that it is the direct influence of the Swedes in this country and their indirect influence through the Germans which has made possible the ac-
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