The Sun THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1914. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN STATE SCHOOLS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 203, 1 October 1914, Page 6

The Sun THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1914. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN STATE SCHOOLS.

One of the most interesting sections of the report of the Education Department is that which refef-s to medical inspection and physical instruction. The collaboration of the teachers with the medical inspectors is producing very satisfactory results, considering that the scheme is yet in its infancy. The teachers are being taught to take an interest in the.'physical Welfare of their charges, arid: though parental indifference—a proportion of which will never be eliminated- —still nullifies to a certain extent the good work done at school, the not result justifies the attempt made by the Department to regard. the child's physical- .well-being as well as its. mental training. Figures supplied by. teachers last year indicate, that the. average New Zealand child is heavier and taller than the average English child of the same age. Generally speaking, the' large majority of children: .who respond to medical tests suffer from dental troubles. In most of the other cases where the health condi- j t-ions are unsatisfactory, correct breath- j ing exercises and fresh air are the only remedies necessary. The new system of physical education has, according to the report, made, good progress. About a third of the teachers have reof instruction adequately to bring" t'lie'system into operation in thtir schools. The course 'of instruction includes the theory;and practice of exercise, jn-ogressive daily lessons in physical , drill, personal hygiene, a course of organised games, and swimming, life saving, and resuscitation drill, a The teachers have taken up this WiOi'lc . with an enthusiasnx which is bound to ; be. reflected in-the physical improvement of the scholars. New Zealand is following America's example in these vital matters, and the experiment has every appearance of gathering strength as it goe,s.