PHYSICAL TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 63, 8 December 1936, Page 8

PHYSICAL TRAINING

Improving System in the Schools “While the playground activities of the schools are well conducted and the natural instincts of the young for bodily exorcise are satisfied, the position of formal and corrective physical training is not quite satisfactory,” stated the Chief Inspector of Primary Schools, Dr. ,T, W. Mcllraith, in his annual report to the Director of Education this year. “The present text-book is in many respects a. radical departure from those previously in use, and shortly after its introduction the itinerant physical instructors were withdrawn. Teachers for the greater part untrained in th© method failed to grasp the principles enumerated, and lost faith in a system they never really understood. A few short refresher courses have been held; but, as the subject is at least as important as any other in the education of the child, matters will not be satisfactory till the teachers are thoroughly familiar with a suitable textbook through both study and practice, and have their work supervised periodically by experts. “The training colleges are doing good work in this respect, but not nearly as good as they might, since at the present time far too many of their students, coming direct from the post-primary schools, have not received adequate preliminary training in a similar system. Valuable opportunities are therefore lost through lack of a co-ordinated system of physical training extending throughout school life. “We need a system planned with such care that every pupil will receive individually such attention as will guarantee that he will not leave school physically illiterate. In England a system has just been inaugurated whereby the itinerant instructors of any education district will, if called upon, assist in organising ‘keep fit’

classes among the adult community. The aim is an Al nation physically. “Swimming and life-saving have received much attention in many districts. Facilities for this work vary very much from district to district. Where such are available there is no subject in which greater enthusiasm is shown.”