The Importance of Physical Culture

NG.1909-04-28.001

Physical culture is an important part of all right methods of education. The young need to be taught how to develop their physical powers, how to preserve these powers in the best condition, and how to make them useful in the practical duties of life. Many think that these things are no part of school work; but this is a mistake. The lessons necessary to fit one for practical usefulness should be taught to every child in the home and to every student in the school.

NG.1909-04-28.002

The place where physical training should begin is in the home, with the little child. Parents should lay the foundation for a healthy, happy life. Life is not given us to be spent in idleness and self-pleasing; great possibilities have been placed before every one who will develop his God-given faculties. For this reason the training of the young is a matter of the highest importance. Every child born into the home is a sacred trust. God says to the parents, Take this child, and bring it up for me, that it may be an honor to my name, and a channel through which my blessings shall flow to the world. To fit the child for such a life, something more is called for than a partial, one-sided education, that will develop the mental at the expense of the physical powers. All the faculties of the mind and body are to be developed, and this is the work which parents, aided by the teacher, are to do for the children and youth placed under their care.

NG.1909-04-28.003

Every mother should see that her children understand their own bodies, and how to care for them. She should explain to them the construction of the muscles and their use. Exercise is an important aid to physical development. It quickens the circulation of the blood, and gives tone to the system. If the muscles are allowed to remain unused, it will soon be apparent that the blood does not sufficiently nourish them. Instead of increasing in size and strength, they will lose their firmness and elasticity, and become soft and weak. Inactivity is not the law that the Lord has established in the human body. The harmonious action of all the parts,-brain, bone, and muscle,-is necessary to the full development of the entire human organism.

NG.1909-04-28.004

The first lessons are of great importance. It is customary to send very young children to school, where they are required to study from books that which taxes their young minds. This course is not wise. Many children have been ruined for life by urging the intellect and neglecting to strengthen the physical powers. Many have died in childhood because of the course pursued by injudicious parents and school-teachers in forcing their young intellects, by flattery or fear, when they were too young to see the inside of a schoolroom. Their minds have been taxed with lessons, when they should have been kept back until the physical constitution was strong enough to endure mental effort. Small children should be left as free as lambs to run out-of-doors, to be free and happy, and should be allowed the most favorable opportunities to lay the foundation for a sound constitution.

NG.1909-04-28.005

The mother should be the teacher, and home the school where the child receives his first lessons; and these lessons should include habits of industry. Mothers, let the little ones play in the open air; let them listen to the songs of the birds, and learn the love of God as expressed in his beautiful works. Teach them simple lessons from the book of nature and the things about them; and as their minds expand, lessons from books may be added, and firmly fixed in the memory. But let them also learn, even in their earliest years, to be useful. Train them to think that, as members of the household, they are to act an interested, helpful part in sharing the domestic burdens, and to seek healthful exercise in the performance of necessary home duties.

NG.1909-04-28.006

It is essential for parents to find useful employment for their children which will involve the bearing of responsibilities as their age and strength will permit. The children should be given something to do that will not only keep them busy, but that will interest them. The active hands and brains must be employed from the earliest years. If parents neglect to turn their children’s energies into useful channels, they do them great injury, for Satan is ready to find them something to do if their hands are left idle.

NG.1909-04-28.007

And the children should be instructed to take their exercise in doing something that will be beneficial to themselves and helpful to others. The exercise that develops mind and character, that teaches the hands to be useful, and trains the young to bear their share of life’s burdens, is that which gives physical strength and quickens every faculty. And there is a reward in virtuous industry, in the cultivation of the habit of living to do good.

NG.1909-04-28.008

The approval of God rests with loving assurance upon the children who cheerfully take their part in the duties of domestic life, sharing the burdens of father and mother. They will be rewarded with health of body and peace of mind; and they will enjoy the pleasure of seeing their parents take their share of social enjoyment and healthful recreation, thus prolonging their lives. Children trained to the practical duties of life will go out from home to be useful members of society. Their education is far superior to that gained by close confinement in the schoolroom at an early age, when neither the mind nor the body is strong enough to endure the strain.

NG.1909-04-28.009

The children and youth should have the lesson continually before them, at home and in the school, by precept and example, to be truthful, unselfish, and industrious. They should not be allowed to spend their time in idleness; their hands should not be folded in inaction. Parents and teachers should work for the accomplishment of this object,-the development of all the powers and the formation of a right character.

NG.1909-04-28.010

Heaven is interested in this work in behalf of the young. The parents and teachers who by wise instruction accustom them to think of and to care for others are helping them to overcome selfishness and to close the door against many temptations. Angels of God will co-operate with these faithful instructors. Angels are not commissioned to do this work themselves; but they will give strength and efficiency to those who in the fear of God seek to train the young to a life of usefulness.