In accordance with the wish of educational officials to diffuse among
the schools of Uruguay the benefits of international progress in the
physical betterment of school children, a commission was named by the
executive in April, 1916, to draw up a plan of physical education
in schools. This commission, acting in cooperation with the general
direction of primary instruction, recommended to the executive the
appointment of a permanent technical commission of physical training
for schools, and this recommendation was approved by executive decree
of March 8, 1918. The commission so appointed was to consist of a
member of the general direction of primary instruction, one of the
national commission of physical education, a physician of the medical
school staff, a physician to be named by the National Council of
Hygiene, the technical inspector of primary education, the technical
director of the National Commission of Physical Education, the teachers
of gymnastics of the normal institutes and of the primary schools of
the capital, and two physicians who were specialists in diseases of
children.
The province of the commission was to draw up for the general direction
of primary instruction programs of physical exercises for schools; to
outline methods of instruction; to see that these programs and methods
were practically carried out in the public schools, to inform the
school authorities upon points of deficiency in instruction and to
indicate measures of correcting these; to organize gymnastic meetings
and exhibitions for schools, and in general to promote the diffusion of
physical education in the schools.
In furtherance of the awakened national interest in physical education,
the executive has appointed departmental commissions in various
departments for the immediate provision of adequate playgrounds and
the acquisition of apparatus for games to be installed in town and
village plazas. These have cooperated with the National Commission
for Physical Education, the latter having decreed the establishment,
upon application of residents, of neighborhood and community playing
centers. All games, especially those of North America, which are
adapted to the climate and environment have been systematically
encouraged. In localities where it was required by law the executive
has authorized the municipal authorities, with the consent of the
national commission, to negotiate such loans as were necessary for the
financial carrying out of this nation-wide scheme. These are steps of
very great significance in a country of South America not by tradition
or racial inheritance addicted to outdoor sports.