A FORTNIGHT'S HOLIDAY

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 6

A FORTNIGHT'S HOLIDAY

EN 7O ATJCKIiAND SCHOOLS. COMMENTING OX MONDAY NEXT. On Monday next all the State schools in and around Auckland close for A fortnight, in order that, the teachers may undergo a course of instruction in physical training. When General BadenPowell passed through New Zealand on a lecturing tour l;i.st year it is understood thai, he wae not over favourably impressed with the system 01 training school cadets. Th<' outcome lias been a pronouncement by ihe Hon. .Jas. Alli-u that a system of physical training is to replace the present system of school eaai'te. Ksfcting cadet corps nerd not necessarily l>c disbanded, hut they will not receive any further assistance or encouragement from the Department, and the sum of £10.000 per year which has hitherto been spent on school cadets will now be devoted to the physical training scheme. Already teachers in the Waikuto and Whaogarei districts have undergone their course of training, and oa Monday next seventy schooLs 111 ?,nd around Auckland will be closed for two weeks, in order that 300 teachers may during that period put In a daily appearance at the Auckland Drill Hall, and go through a course of instruction under Mr. Royd Oarliek and a staff of ten assistants, instructors are included on the stalT. and it will be their duty mainly to attend to the lady teachers who will be in attendance. The schools to be dosed include all thoeo along the North Auckland line as far as Wcllsford, and in addition to the city and suburban schools a number oi tb>' country sciools within close reach of Auckland will be closed.

Many teachers feel keenly disappointed that the new system should be aimed at the destruction of the school cadet system, which it is claimed forms an excellent training ground from which to recruit senior cadets and territorials. No further uniforms or accoutrements will be issued by the Department for use by school cadets. The matter is not in the hands of the Auckland Kriueation Board, as the instructions are given by officials appointed by the Education Department. A representative 'of the. "Auckland Star" was informed this morning by Mr. <;. .1. Garland (chairman of the Auckland Education Board) that the elderly school teachers are not expected to actually take pan. iv the physical drill, but it is necessary for them to be present at the classes to watch the younger ones go through the training, in order to understand the system that is to be taught.