“James H. Sterrett, affectionately called ‘Papa Jim’ by his host of friends, is the most liberal swimming philanthropist I ever met, always ready to impart his expert knowledge to the ‘other fellow.’ He is one of the few of the old school of swimmers who has kept right up to date in the art. He taught me to swim all the strokes scientifically, and I owe much of my success as a teacher to his helpfulness.”
BREAST STROKE, SIDE VIEW.
CRAWL STROKE, SIDE VIEW.
Swimming a Necessary Part of One’s Education
Some years ago it was not so easy to get people interested in the art of swimming and to have them realize the necessity of a knowledge of how to keep the body afloat and to propel it through the water by means of the arms and legs, in order to be able not only to save one’s own life but be the means of rendering assistance to others in time of danger and accident. Conditions have greatly changed in this direction now, and swimming is on a strong wave of popularity; in fact, the great mass of people of the United States, both young and old, have taken up this pastime with so much vigor and enthusiasm that it will not be long ere this country, as in many other things, will lead all the nations of the world in its educational interest in spreading this useful accomplishment, as our competitive swimmers are now leading the world in speed swimming and skill in the water.
That swimming is healthful, splendid for development, easily acquired and should be a part of one’s education and taught in schools as being as necessary as reading, writing, and arithmetic, is now generally admitted, and means have been provided in nearly all the large cities whereby the school children are given the proper facilities, under careful and up-to-date instruction, to bring about the desired end.