The organisation of physical training in Sweden, with a note on the system adopted in Denmark.

Date:
[1907]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The organisation of physical training in Sweden, with a note on the system adopted in Denmark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    THE ORGANISATION OF PHYSICAL TRAINING IN SWEDEN. The Origin op the System.* The Swedish system of physical training owes its origin to the work of Per Henrik Ling. Ling, who was born in 1776 and died in 1839, devoted the best years of his life to the task of devising a scientific system of bodily exercises, and much of the remainder to training a generation of teachers, through whom he hoped the knowledge of his system might gradually be spread throughout Sweden. With these ends in view, he endeavoured in the first place to make himself acquainted with all that was then known of the sciences of physiology, anatomy, animal mechanics, and hygiene, and in addition he investigated to the best of his ability both contemporary and historic methods of gymnastic training. Out of these materials he built up a harmonious system of physical development. In 1813 his system was formally adopted by the Swedish Govern- ment, and the Central Gymnastic Institute opened at Stockholm, Ling himself being appointed the first Principal. Gabriel Branting, who followed Ling in the post of Principal of the Institute, developed his predecessor’s theories more especially on the medical side, while Ling’s son, Hjalmar, who succeeded Branting in 1858, devoted himself particularly to the study of pedagogical gymnastics. It is to Hjalmar Ling that a great part of the arrangement and classification of gymnastic movements, as recognised by the Swedish system, is due. His father seems not to have had time ever to compile a really complete book on the subject which he had made his own. Any attempt to describe the Ling system itself in detail would be clearly out of place here. Such a description could only be given, and then but in a fragmentary and imperfect manner, with the aid of a large number of diagrams. Apart from such text- books as exist on the subject there are many places in England where the system can be seen at work. In particular may be mentioned Madame Bergman (Isterberg’s Physical Training College at Dartford Heath, Kent. * A summarised translation of the work entitled “ Enseignement et Culture intellectuelle en Suede, issued by the Swedish Government in connection with the Paris Exhibition of 1900, and giving a short sketch of the system of educa- tion in Sweden, appeared in Volume 8 of Special Reports on Educational Subjects. [Cd. 835]. 1902.