The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. FRIDAY, JUNE 30th, 1916. PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 155, 30 June 1916, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

FRIDAY, JUNE 30th, 1916. PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

For the cause that lacks astistmnce, For the wrong that needs reaiatance, For the future in the distance, And the good that torn can do.

It is indicative of the growing im- n portance that is attached to physical t; education among educationists that w about half of the able address of the p president at this yearjs meeting of the « New Zealand Educational Institute was c ; devoted to this branch. We have tra- a veiled very far in this and other vv branches since tho time when Mr. Gradgrind saw in "Facta" the beginning and end of education. There are still . people, otherwise quite intelligent, who, if asked what education is, reply that it is knowledge. The fact that true education seeks to develop tho mind, the w body, and the character, and that if *• education neglects any one of these c : factors it is dangerously lopsided, has r ' not yet been widely grasped by the Ci i people. Mr. H. G. Cousins' address should v 'be in the hands of every parent, if only :as a corrective of the idea that ednca- | tion is confined to the three "R's." Mr Cousins admits that we have done a good deal in New Zealand towards establish- ' ing a scientific system of physical education, but he is by no means satisfied " with our efforts. Speaking with the _ authority oi recent observation in Britain, he says that New Zealand is "distinctly behind" tho Old Country in the thoroughness of medical inspection and treatment of school children. "In 1914, when our school doctors couM examine medically but a small propor- • tion of our children, and when no pro- P vision was made to ensure curative P treatment, I found in several parts of n England, in Scotland, and in Ireland, a not only that medical inspection was a very thorough and general, but that suitable provision was made also for carrying out the treatment prescribed. . . . The work of special nurses, who follow up the doctors' examination and make the necessaiy connection between the school and the home, was proving highly satisfactory." Mr. Cousins recognises that it is impossible at present to engage sufficient doctors and nurses to carry out this work according' "the. British' System, but he makes a strong plea for greater effort after the war. He complains, and we think with at least some justice, that the organisation of our physical education is not good. It is organised "under eeparate officers whose estimato < of efficient work done by pupil and i teacher has no direct bearing on the i grading of one or tho other," and conse quently this part of education tends to • become "a backwater on the stream of ; intensive school work." A teacher's ■ promotion depends upon the inspectors report; his bias will be towards those subjects which he thinks the inspector will most appreciate. str. Cousins thinks that a lead is required from the inspectors, and that ability to direct and appreciate good physical training should be a necessary qualification for the in spectonttc He suggests that the child's proficiency standard be broadened by the inclusion of certain physical standards. • "Should not every normal boy and girl be required to swim before receiving such a certificate? Obviously this demands the provision of facilities to make the learning practicable. In the same way standards might be set up in running, jumping, and general physical development, which, without being high • enough to call for specialisation, would at least ensure an all-round training." Mr. Cousins emphasises the value of manly games, which he thinks will be more than ever in demand after the war. He. would like to 6ee wrestling and boxing taught as a "definite training ' in persistence of effort and endurance c of pain," and every boy taught to ride. f This is a conrse of perfection, but it is c refreshing to see such a plea coming from an educationist. This war has j shown us the value of the manly quaii 1 ties, and there is no guarantee that this a is the last war in our time. Multiply the y machinery of war as much as you like, and strong brave men arc still the foundation of national defence. That a well-developed mind in a well-developed healthy body is more efficient than tbe same calibre of mind in a n.ak, diseased body, is such a commonplace that we hesitate to write it. But there ia a wide gulf between precept and practice in this matter. Mr. Cousins also urges Btrongly improvements in school 4 buildings, and better provision of play _ grounds. In both these respects there has been much improvement of late years, but much remains to be done. Money, of conrse, will be scarce for a long time to come, but that is no reason B why there should not be more system " and foresight. Besides, we are not sure that edncation should not be the last subject for retrenchment. International competition will be fiercer than ever after the war, and we should not allow our years of prosperity to lull us into a false sense of security. Connected with the improvement of B our system of physical education, is 8 the question of the restoration of the primary school cadets. Mr. Cousins, we are very glad to see, strongly advocates restoration, and we are sure that he speaks for the majority of teachers. The response to the call of duty and the deeds of our men on tire battlefield show the value of the system •which, -was "suddenly, 4aet iu-a-'yery; ex-

traordinary wajy." From the point of view both of physical education and military training the abolition of the cadets was a serious mistake, and the system should be restored immediately after the war. Junior cadets form part of the Australian defence scheme, which is simi lar to ours. Mr. Cousins hopes that when it is is re-introduced it will be as unpretentious as possible, " a means of allowing our boys to express in a concrete way their wish to play their part in national defence," but not "a system to be exploited by would-be advertisers." There will, of course, be strong opposition to restoration in certain quarters where the lessons of this war have made no impression, but most people will agree that " the realisation of the- horrors of war should not make us turn from the possibility of its recurrence," and that "a sane system of sound physical and elementary military training need not, and should not, lead to a glorification of war."