PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 7

PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

AN INTERESTING DEMONSTRATION,

An interesting demonstration of the new system of physical education in the State schools was given in the Concert Chamber of the Town llnll yesterday by Mr. IMyaGarlick (Director of Physical Education) and his staff of instructors. These who witnossed the demonstration included: T)io Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister for Education), the Hon. R. 11. Rhodes (Minister for Public Health), Mrs. W.-P. Massey, officers of the Defence and Eduoabon Departments, and a number of medical mon and inombors of Parliament. Somo two hundred people in all attended. For tlio purposes of the demonstration, the ten 'instructors, 'six men and four ladies, formed themselves into a squad, and went through the exercises which are to Be taught to the children, each instructor taking his or her turn its director of operations.- As a whole the exeroise9 covered an elaborate series of body movements, particul/ir attention being paid at all time 3to correct breathing. In practical application the exeroises are graded and adapted to tho needs of children of different ages. The amount of thought , that has boen given to the compilation of the physioal e<lucation syllabus was inchoated in the great variety of movements introduced. At times sheer romping was substituted for the ordered exeroisea, and dancing, hopping, and jumping also nnd a place in the sj'stem. As a whole it seemß well adapted to fulfil its object of building up tho physical powers of children, and their mental powers also in so far as they depend upon a perfect physical wganisation:. . , , , , , When the demonstration had concluded the Hon Jas. Allen spoke briefly to those who had witnessed it. He expressed tha hope that they would go away satisfied tfiat" the Government was, at anyrate, trying to <lo something to improye ' the physical education of boys and girls in primary schools. • "To M-. Eoyd Garhck and his staff he would say that, while he was well-pleased with what was being done, ho did not want them to thinii that they were perfect. Mr. Eoyd Garlick would agree with liim that there was -a great deal still to be learned about - the ' physical education of children, and, with the members of his stuff, he must make every effort to keep up to date- A very 'great "responsibility, rested upon the members of . the staff, and they_ shculd recognise that it was a great-privilege to a position of assisting to improve the physical efficiency of the future citizens of the Dominion.- Properly carried _ out their work would benefit,not individuals only, but the nation,' and they should take pleasure ih doing such work not for, the sake of money only,- but for the sake ot the nation. Everything possible would be done to encourage them; and he looked to them to effect great improvements in the children. within the next, year or two. Mr. Eoyd Garlick i replied briefly, assuring the Minister that the members of his staff appreciated fully the responsibility resting upon them, and ..i^ok'a. liye interest in their work. They: regretted that they were allowed on!}- fifteen minutes a day in which to instil' this subject into the minds of children. "