FREE GYMNASTICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1111, 26 April 1911, Page 5

FREE GYMNASTICS.

SCHOOLS TO BE GIVEN'DISCRETION. The Wellington Education Board further discussed, at its meeting yesterday, the- question of introducing a system of free gymnastics—physical_ training without apparatus—to-t-ho Wellington schools, on the. lines of certain suggestions drafted .by Major T. \\. al'Donald, Commandant of tho Junior Cadets. . Tho Wellington District Institute of Teachers, acting in accordance with, the board's invitation, submitted a report setting forth its views on tho innovation. This report was published in The Dominion after the institute considered the proposals. Tho chairman (Mr. Robert Lee) thought that the board might adopt the scheme outlined by the Commandant of Cadets as suggestions, to be noted by the teachers, and used at their own discretion. . Where it was thought necessary by teachers that Clubs, wards, and the like should be used, tho board would have no objection. He moved accordingly. The board's chief inspector (Mr. T. R. Fleming) said that tho ideas set forth in tho suggested scheme were in a measure anticipated in the annual report of the board's inspectorate—prepared prior to tho receipt of Major M'Donald's memorandum. Quoting from the report in question, he said: "AVe are satisfied with the attention gjven to physical instruction. Instead of, as formerly, taking one hour on one. day in the week for this subject, many teachers have adopted the more satisfactory plan of devoting ten or fifteen minutes daily to the giving of deepbreathing exercises, in addition to a fev; free exercises. In somo cases, wands, clubs, and dumb-bells aro ako used, but in the use of special apparatus judgment is required, and a satisfactory course of exercises suitable for tho harmonious development of all parts of the body may be effectively carried out without such apparatus. In some cases we found clubs in the hands of very young children, for whom a few simple free exercises would have been of much greater benefit." Mr. Wm. Allan seconded the motion, adding that the board should make a point of referring all future matters similarly affecting the school work to the Teachers' Institute. The chairman drew attention to a special reference by the Teachers' Institute in it's report: "That this institute is of opinion that equally important with the question of physical drill is that of internal accommodation in schools, especially in regard to ventilation and desks." This part of the report should bo referred to the Finance and Works . Committee for consideration. Mr. A. H.' Vile said that these questions appeared to be very serious, and should be fully inquired into. Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., thought that tho institute should be asked to state particular cases. It was agreed to refer tho points in question to the Finance Committee for investigation and report.