“CLAIM IS NOT JUSTIFIED”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 12

“CLAIM IS NOT JUSTIFIED”

Other Evidence Of Unfitness «

“There was other evidenejj, ( unfitness besides the Kraus-W( tests and my earlier statenbrfa was not based on this sourced information alone as might tntl" suggested by criticisms of j ro )i tests made by the Chief Inspect) of Primary Schools (Mr J.iooi Ewing). His claim that my < elusions were ‘quite misleadini lf>ei not justified," says the v nafi president of the Physical Edi n tion Society (Mr A. S. Lewis) n a statement. 0 < Mr Lewis says that very :ey tests are conclusive. The ficiencies of these tests were t known to physical educai teachers and had not been o' n . looked when he had expres concern for the physical fitnesi children. “Whatever the limitations of ’ll tests, it should be recognised 1 they measure the same th’ with any children in any coun and that the 38 per cent, fail figure with New Zealand child compares most unfavourably v the 9 per cent, failure of Eu pean children. “The fact that our children 1 not quite as unfit as Ameri children, is no reason for cc placency. It is true, as Mr Ew points out, that the 38 per c« figure is an overall one for age groups tested. Figures i also available for each age gro however, and it can be sho' that though variations exist, 1 results do not substantially dif from one age group to another. “Information on fitness fre sources other than the Krai Weber tests confirms the beli that unfitness is prevalent amoi children. “The ‘Hundred Plus’ tests ca ried out with post-primary schoo boys indicate from a samp! analysis that boys make little any gains in strength, enduranc and agility as they progres through school. The same test given to university students to gether with medical records o posture and flat feet, show a stati of unfitness which demands atten tion. “These several observations, coupled with known facts ol severely limited time and facilities allotted to physical education in schools, are justifiable grounds for, fearing not only a continuation of the present unsatisfactory situation but a further deterioration in fitness among children. I am very pleased to have Mr Ewing’s agreement that the matter should not be ignored,” says Mr Lewis.