YOUTH ON DISPLAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 7

YOUTH ON DISPLAY

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS

MODERN CURRICULA

Moving with rhythmic grace and poise, pupils from Wellington secondary schools gave a demonstration last evening in the auditorium of the Wellington Technical College that was a striking testimony to the facilities and benefits that are available in physical education in modern schools. It was the more impressive when it was realised that the display was not merely the product of steady training for a particular function; it was the public performance of gymnastics, dancing, and recreative physical education that form an integral part of modern curricula. The clean-limbed, healthy boys and girls were examples of perfect youth—future citizens in whose keeping the country will lie, and who are now receiving a form of culture denied to many of their parents. It was the first such demonstration of the Wellington branch of the Physical Education Society of New Zealand, and before the first item was over there was not even standing room in the large auditorium, and many people could not be admitted. In keeping with the crisp efficiency of the performers was the stage managing; from the overture by the orchestra of the Wellington Working Men's Club to the grand finale the programme was presented without a hitch, and the 300 taking part won frequent and spontaneous applause from the house. The display was of an exceptionally high standard, more in keeping with gymnasiums than with schools; arid the thought that the physical ability could be attained in the schools and colleges by. any pupil so inclined was a revelation to many of those present. PROGRESS OF MOVEMENT. Speaking at the interval, Dr. A. Gillies, patron of the branch, said there had been in the past a great movement to get the physical into education: now the pendulum seemed to have swung the other way, and there was a great move to get education into the physical. The work in physical training being done in secondary schools by the V.M.C.A, and in pri-vately-trained classes was of the greatest value in the community. Much of that work did not get the credit that was due, but the' first demonstration of the branch had proved that there was something very remarkable in the movement that had been coming to the fore-for some years. Teachers of physical education had to possess certain attributes; they had to have a sound general education in addition to outstanding physical qualities,* so that they could be examples of a healthy mind in a healthy body, The parents had willingly <• given their support, and to him it was a source of delight. The teachers expected the support not only of the parents but of the State, and they were certainly deserving of every assistance and encouragement in their great work. j A team from Scots College opened the programme with . vaulting horse j gymnastics, the neatness and finish of the movements showing careful training and application. An excellent display of free standing gymnastics was given by girls of Queen Margaret College, and they were followed by an exhibition of country dancing by the Wellington branch of the Folk Dancing Society. Brownies, daintily precise, gave a further country dance, and the women's class of the. V.M.C.A. went through a series of Danish exercises. After a miniature lesson by Wellesley-College a Danish dance was given by the Wellington Girls' College, and a two-part item, physical exercises, and dancing, came from the Wellington East Girls' College. Scots College again transformed the stage into a gymnasium, this time with parallel bar gymnastics, more involved and rather more spectacular than the vaulting horse. Queen Margaret College offered a modern German dance, recreational .physical training was shown by members of the Dental Clinic class, Wellington. Girls' College gave more physical exercises, and the Margaret Morris Movement was demonstrated by pupils of Miss M. Bell. An entertaining item, "shadowgraphs," was given by pupils of the V.M.C.A. gymnasium, and the last separate item before the massed finale was an exhibition of tumbling and pyramids by Wellington College. It was an excellent insight into modern teaching methods, which must inspire confidence in the future wellbeing of the Dominion. The stage manager was Mr. M. J. F. Hannah. ■