VALUE OF ORGANISED GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 38, 13 August 1921, Page 6

VALUE OF ORGANISED GAMES

"Organised games now'play such, an important part in' the work of ,the modem school, that it"; is to be regretted that our repeated requests for-either a large gymnasium or an adequate playing- area, have 90 far produced no actual results," states Professor J. S. Tennant, principal of the Teachers' .Training College, ■-in his' annual report to the chairman of the Education •Board. "The bearing'of this on the physique of the (iommunity is obvious—public hesitJx is purchasable' not, by : drag stores, sanatoria, hospitals, but by baths, playgrounds, and bright, sunny 'schools. Wb.e price appears to be high, but when we decide that it is so we . also [recognise that with children organised play can tie made the surest foundation for onr mental, moral, and civic training. While this is, pi course, a general plea for the schools,' our special plea is that young 1 teachers should go out of the college with a practical knowledge of the possibilities in the . modem idea of play." The Department's physical instructors gave a short: course to the students at the begimringi of the year. That was supplemented by the students taking part in the regular drill of the Normal Schools,' and the weekly afternoon games at Karori Park. It was found impossible to continue the students' -regular practice owing to the lack of > space.