Voluntary power

More from the Albany Public Schools Syllabus of Physical Training, 1914:

“For those children who have not the voluntary power for assuming correct posture, the teacher must give individual correction. It is necessary that this class of children be placed in the correct position by someone else until they have acquired the voluntary power to do so themselves. (See Posture Outline.)”

“The execution of corrective exercises so they are correct is the object of all gymnastic work for posture. It is the only means of developing weak muscles and changing faulty co-ordination. It is the test of a teacher’s teaching ability whether she merely gives commands or uses each exercise for accomplishing some definite purpose with each pupil.”