Physical
education, or "physical culture" as it was known in
the 19th and early 20th centuries, was an important part of the
daily school routine. Its purpose was to promote daily exercise
to keep the body fit, and to provide students a break from sitting
in their classrooms all day long. The Report of the Minister of
Education for 1915, states that physical activity in schools is
important because young students are "too often prone to
neglect the body under the influence of the false notion that
thereby more can be accomplished by the mind."
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“Most
boys and girls are fond of play, and it requires no effort
of the teacher to get them out of the school-room at recess,
to exercise their muscles and fill their lungs with fresh
air. ”
Report
of the Minister of Education, 1920,
pp. 55-56 |
Physical exercise took form in a variety of activities,
ranging from free exercise such as weights and calisthenics (a
form of gymnastics without apparatus), to military drill, to organized
sports. |
Houghton, E. F. Physical Culture 3rd ed.
Toronto: Warwick & Sons, 1888
Reference Code: School Books Box , Hped 1 (1888)
Archives of Ontario Library Collection |
![Photo: Picton Collegiate Institute, [ca. 1905]](pics/12036_boys_exercises_520.jpg)
Click
to see a larger image (276K)
Picton Collegiate Institute, [ca. 1905]
Marsden Kemp fonds
Photograph of a photograph
Reference Code: C 130-1-0-23-88
Archives of Ontario, I0012036 |
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Sports and athletics were intended to "develop the manly
qualities which enter into honourable competition in business
and in public life" (Report of the Minister of Education,
1898, p. xxxv). Consequently, high schools and collegiate institutes
in particular were encouraged to form organized sports teams
- football, baseball, lacrosse being the most popular.
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![Photo: Lacrosse team, Alexandria, [1925?]](pics/2407_lacrosse_team_270.jpg)
Click
to see a larger image (77K)
Lacrosse team, Alexandria, [1925?]
Duncan Donovan fonds
Glass plate negative
Reference Code: C 128-1-4-0-3
Archives of Ontario, I0002407 |
![Photo: Girls soccer team, Alexandria, [1900?]](pics/2439_girls_soccer_270.jpg)
Click
to see a larger image (81K)
Girls soccer team, Alexandria, [ca. 1900]
Duncan Donovan fonds
Glass plate negative
Reference Code: C 128-5-1-43-1
Archives of Ontario, I0002439 |
Video clip of baseball, Jarvis Collegiate
Institute
Walter Moorhouse fonds
Reference Code: C 231-18-0-1 to 8
Archives of Ontario |
Video clip of football, Jarvis Collegiate
Institute
Walter Moorhouse fonds
Reference Code: C 231-18-0-1 to 8
Archives of Ontario |
Video clip of skiing JCI, [Jarvis Collegiate
Institute] Camera Club
Walter Moorhouse fonds
Reference Code: C 231-18-0-1 to 8
Archives of Ontario |
Video clip of various sports and athletics,
Jarvis Collegiate Institute
Walter Moorhouse fonds
Reference Code: C 231-18-0-1 to 8
Archives of Ontario |
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In the 20th century, physical education programmes expanded
to include leadership training, such as the Ontario Athletic
Leadership Camp and Ontario Camp Leadership Centre. These training opportunities were intended to provide students
with the leadership skills useful for those who were interested
in entering the teaching profession |
Video clip of girls' callisthenics, Jarvis
Collegiate Institute
Walter Moorhouse fonds
Reference Code: C 231-18-0-1 to 8
Archives of Ontario |
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