DRILL AT SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 93, 20 April 1932, Page 3

DRILL AT SCHOOLS.

COMFtAINT OF DAMP GROUND NO NEED FOR HARDSHIP. At a recent meeting of the Education Board there was a complaint concerning the new system of physical education in schools, the main objections being that some children had to lie down on damp ground and that they had to go barefooted. A report from the physical instructor, Mr. K. C. Roid, which was before the board this morning, stated there was no need for any school to bo doing ground work after the first three weeks of the year. The lying and sitting positions were purely preparative to the real scheme and should be covered in the time given, when clean, warm ground or dry grass patches could be used to advantage. Regarding bare feet, providing the pupil was kept active no harmful result occurred. Dr. Mellwraith, senior inspector, said it was absolutely essential that the child should see its feet and chest during the ground work, so that it would appreciate the results of the exercises. There was no need for the children to lie down on damp ground. That phase of the work should all be over and done with before the damp weather began.