School Swimming Issue

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31224, 23 November 1966, Page 19

School Swimming Issue

'THE rock on which constant efforts by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association to obtain better teaching of swimming in schools have been wrecked in the past is the fact that the Department of Education can act only in an advisory capacity, and has no authority to demand. This is stated by the president of the Canterbury Swimming Centre (Mr S. Williams) in reply to a correspondent, “Teacher.” Mr Williams said swimming authorities were deeply aware of the

teachers’ problems in teaching large numbers of children to swim. “In this we are not alone,” he said. “The Physical Education authorities are concerned, as are several organisations attached to schools. “What we are trying to do is to get alongside the school authorities in an endeavour to find a solution.” In his letter, “Teacher” said the Education Department could act only in an advisory capacity and had no authority to demand the teaching of swimming from teachers. “Over the years its services have been greatly appreciated by many teachers who have attended swimming courses and participated in water safety demonstrations and swimming weeks. In most schools a half hour a day is devoted to the teaching of swimming for about 12 weeks of the year. I have attended the coaching sessions conducted by the asso-

ciation and noticed the coaches usually work with seven swimmers for demonstrations.” “Teacher” challenged the association to answer these questions:— (1) How to give systematic daily instruction to 500 to 600 pupils. (2) Where would they find the finance to provide over 300 Canterbury schools with an officer and what would they do with him in the “off season?” Mr Williams said the letter raised no issues <of which the centre was unaware. He said the centre’s concern was the ability of children to swim, which would reduce the loss of life by drowning. One competent person, he claimed, could deal with 30 or more children. “We never anticipated physical education officers for swimming only,” he said. "Their job is surely all aspects of physical welfare and games, with swimming but one of its facets.”