IHPRA Newsletter
March 2004

The theme of this month's newsletter is the mind/body connection. 
The IHPRA motto is Mens sana in corpore sano.
It means "Sound mind in Sound Body."

Francis Parker expressed the concept well over a century ago when he wrote:

"It may never be known scientifically what a tremendous influence the body and all its organs exert upon the brain, and consequently upon the intellect.  The more I see of physical training in schools, the more I believe in it; the more I study psychology, especially physiological psychology, the stronger my belief becomes in physical training." --Francis Parker.  

Herbert Spencer tied physical fitness to morality:

We do not yet realize the truth that as, in this life of ours, the physical underlies the mental, the mental must not be developed at the expense of the physical . . . . Perhaps nothing  will so much hasten the time when body and mind will both be adequately cared for, as a diffusion of the belief that the preservation of health is a duty.  Few seem conscious that there is such a thing as physical morality.  Men's habitual words and acts imply the idea that they are at liberty to treat their bodies as they please. Disorders entailed by disobedience to Nature's dictates, they regard simply as grievances: not as the effects of a conduct more or less flagitious. Though the evil consequences inflicted on their dependents, and on future generations, are often as great as those caused by crime; yet they do not think themselves in any degree criminal. 

Physical Fitness May Protect Aging Brain

Exercise Sharpens Judgment

Here is a sad article titled "Couch Potato Workouts."

Baptists lead the way in gluttony and nutritional abuse of their holy temples.
Some ministers are speaking out.

When the Texas Governor met with it's top leaders last month
to discuss State policy issues, Physical Fitness was on the agenda.

Some states are taking junk food out of school vending machines.

Idaho lawmaker urges colleagues to get fit.

Too Much Weight Tugs at Kids' Hearts

Physical Education Programs Cut Nationwide

Study Links Childhood Obesity To Video Games

Obesity Not Linked with Asthma in Kids

White House takes aim at obesity

New Study Links Physical Fitness to Work Performance

Pennsylvania schools pushing physical education to the side

Building America
During WWII, the Department of Supervision and Curriculum Development
of the National Education Association published a series of books entitled
Building America--Illustrated studies on modern problems.
Volume VIII published in 1942 and 1943 
addressed the issue of physical fitness.
Take a look.

Here's a link to an article about the WWII Navy V-5 Program.

President Gerald Ford was an instructor in the V-5 Program.

Here's an article about the origin of nudity in Ancient Greek athletics

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