SCHOOL GAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 251, 20 October 1923, Page 11

SCHOOL GAMES.

TEACHERS STILL RESTIVE. DIRECT ASSURANCE WANTED. AUCKLAND MASTER'S VIEWS. Despite assurances to the contrary, the Auckland teachers as a body are not satisfied that the Education Department in grading teachers, takes into consideration the time and labour devoted by enthusiasts to school games. The somewhat, unhappy history of the Department's policy and its results were commented upon by a first, assistant in one of the city schools, when in conversation with a, ''Star" representative. "At fimt," he said, "the Department concentrated upon what it called 'environment,' for which grading marks were given. The environment in question had relation to games and sports, but, strangely enough, had no necessary connection with the games and sports of the school children. Inspectors merely wanted to know what were the activities of the teacher himself. Did he play golf ? Did he play cricket ? Did he belong to a club? Was he in the church choir ? "What wag the result of hue.li a method of computing the environment of a school ?" asked the first assistant, and he answered the question in this way: "The result was that the Department built up a system under which teachers were simply forced to join every sports body possible. They seized all the secretaryships that they could handle. They played golf, bowls, tennis, and even joined local bodies. The system meant that to get improved grading they had to qualify as the 'good fellows' of their locality. Teacher as Sub-Curate. "Thus the man who could be described out of school as 'one of the best' was the man most likely to receive promotion, even though the children bad no help from him in regard to any of their games. Some teachers even went the length of joining the Tillage church choir, became teachers in the Sunday school, and, in fact, seemed to be doing their beet to institute the old churcn school system, where the echoolmaster had to be a toady and general factotum, or sub-curate to the vicar. Fortunately there was an outcry at the unfairness and unreasonableness of the scheme, and the Department abolished it a few years ago." Dealing with the present position, the first assistant declared that the teachers generally wanted a direct assurance from the Minister of Education that their work in connection with school Raines would be taken into account in the matter of grading, or by payment. The principle of recognising it indirectly, which was Mr. Parr's claim, was not good enough. There must either b» a direct salary attached or marks allowed. The question of salary had been settled at Kowhai District High School, where an extra salary of £30 a year had been given to a lady to look after the (ports. Unofficially Recognised. Another point mentioned was that many teachers claim that games should be included in the school curriculum, although admittedly by older headmasters are strongly opposed to this step. At the same time, sports and games are unofficially recognised as part of the school programme. That being so, it is felt that the request to have the matter put on a proper footing is quite reasonable. In some schools there is already a short period devoted weekly to "school activities." which may or may not include sports and games- There is no rule laid down by the headmasters »s to the exact definition of " activities," and the result is that it is open to a teacher who, say, is fond of music, to initiate an orchestra for the children, or for one who is fond of theatricals to arrange plays and mock trials. In themselves all these things may be good, but it is felt that there is too wide a range of "activities" to ensure that sports and games can be adequately handled in the time allowed, which in certain cases is only about one hour in the week. Physical Exerci«e» Hot Good Enough. Physical drill also has been criticised from two standpoints. Firstly, many of the exercises are merely corrective, and do not allow of the free movements which are obtained in games. Secondly, many teachers are not qualified to teach these exercises, and one can only hope that the chidren do not take them too seriously, as they might do more harm than good if strenuously practised in a wrong fashion. Under ail these circumstances, according to the teachers, it comes back to these poTnts. The willing horse is carrying the load so far as participating in school games is concerned. The teachers feel that their work in that direction is ignored, whereas there is a widespread opinion that either payment or grading marks should be given. Finally, the opinion is held that sports should be included in the curriculum of .the schools.