There needs no excuse for a long quotation from the volume in which,
just short of half a century ago, Herbert Spencer discussed this matter.
Thereafter we may observe how the pendulum has swung to the other
extreme:--
"To the importance of bodily exercise most people are in some
degree awake. Perhaps less needs saying on this requisite of
physical education than on most others; at any rate, in so far as
boys are concerned. Public schools and private schools alike
furnish tolerably adequate play-grounds; and there is usually a
fair share of time for out-door games, and a recognition of them as
needful. In this, if in no other direction, it seems admitted that
the promptings of boyish instinct may advantageously be followed;
and, indeed, in the modern practice of breaking the prolonged
morning's and afternoon's lessons by a few minutes' open-air
recreation, we see an increasing tendency to conform
school-regulations to the bodily sensations of the pupils. Here,
then, little need be said in the way of expostulation or
suggestion.
"But we have been obliged to qualify this admission by inserting
the clause in so far as boys are concerned. Unfortunately, the fact
is quite otherwise with girls. It chances, somewhat strangely, that
we have daily opportunity of drawing a comparison.
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