GERMAN PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 12, 14 July 1930, Page 8

GERMAN PROGRESS

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

A VISITOR IMPRESSED

(From "The Post's" Representative)

LONDON, 30th May,

Madame Land Alwyn (Christelmrd*); has been on the Continent for some tlmt ( interesting herself largely in matter* connected with her special work. She has formed many impressions, and those, appended below are well worth considering. Writing from Berlin on 26th May, M\« 'says: — "I do not like to join ths chorus of. the people singing the praises of the German people for leading the world in physical education, but I must admit that facilities for sport and such activities are very wonderful, and must have cost the State or the people a terrible amount of money. However, the -whole civilised world realises 'The nation's health is the nation's wealth.' So Germany progresses. "The Education Department, through the Foreign Office, gave me an open permit to visit the schools. I had a most interesting time. I have seen the physical culture in all its grades as given to the school children. And it is good in every way; exercises for young children, with and without apparatus followed by sport every day. The exercise period is of paramount importance and every child has to don gym. uniform, which is a very scanty affair for the girls and just shorts for the boys, bodies bare to the waist when out-of-doors, or a cotton sleeveless vest when cold. The older girls had specific work suited to age and development. "I also had a permit to visit every school of Physical Education within reach of Berlin. As there are many, I confined my attention to those recommended by the Health Department and State. I have consequently done a good deal of study as well as teaching in Berlin. "Most of the good systems of physical culture have been founded by a privata school and recognised as a system by approval. "I think the reason Germany is supposed to lead the world is because Germany docs not establish a system and sit still on that, like our people do. fTlm last time I witnessed a physical culture display in New Zealand the students went through a set of Swedish exercises which were in vogue nearly twenty years ago. I am going to make a physical culture film, but as 1 am British I will make it in England, if possible, with British materia) and people.■