PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 36, 22 November 1940, Page 4

PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

“ Why has- physical education in Britain been so long neglected, end why, even to-day, are we so laggard in promoting its progress?” asked Lord Dawson of Penn, the eminent physician, speaking in the House of Lords. “Fir&t and foremost I would say it is due to the fallacy, obstinately held for generations, that, while it is necessary to educate a youth’s mind, it is not necessary to educate his body. For this incredible folly the educated classes and their educators have been responsible. Physical training secures that the body grows in strength and proportion. It teaches posture and carriage, neither of which is an inborn quality ; they have to be learned by the human body just as we have to learn reading and writing. The explanation of that is probably evolutionary. It is, biologically, relatively recently that Man assumed the erect posture, and he has yet to be taught in his youth how to stand and how to walk. Further, basic physical training teaches youths to develop flexible frames. They learn to use their muscles and also effective breathing. All this is the duty of physical training. If -we were to feed the children up and not give them proper physical training we should develop a dreadful nation of deformities.”