Science and Physical Development 



strong-limbed, clear-headed people shall look back 

 in pity on the physical deterioration of a past 

 generation. 



Now the two blue-books referred to are the 

 result of the application of the principle for which 

 we plead, since they were produced by minds 

 previously trained in public affairs and brought 

 to bear upon a great mass of scientific and expert 

 evidence. They are worthy, therefore, of a detailed 

 examination. 



ROYAL COMMISSION ON PHYSICAL TRAINING 



The Royal Commission on Physical Training 

 (Scotland) was appointed in March 1902, and re- 

 ported in March 1903. The Commissioners found 

 that no reliable statistics were in existence to en- 

 able them to compare the present with the past, 

 and thus to judge if the physique of Scottish chil- 

 dren of to-day compared favourably or otherwise 

 with their predecessors, but they caused a very 

 careful examination to be made, in two typical 

 centres, of 1200 school children, so chosen and 

 grouped as to provide accurate statistics for future 

 comparison, and to give a clear idea of the present 

 physical condition of Scottish children. The Re- 

 port of the examiners appointed to conduct this 

 inquiry was the most important evidence laid be- 

 fore the Commissioners. The towns selected for 

 comparison were Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The 

 latter was chosen as fairly representing Scotland 

 outside the larger towns, of which latter Edinburgh 



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