GOOD POSTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 135, 5 December 1933, Page 4

GOOD POSTURE

GAMES IN EDUCATION

SYLLABUS FOR SCHOOLS

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON,: October 27.

Great stress is laid 'ou the importance, of good posture in a revised syllabus of physical training for schools issued by the Board of Education.

"Correct posture," it is stated, "is necessary for good health and for complcto physical development. It makes the body more usoful, skilful; and beautiful. It helps to produce self-respect, and therefore self-confidence.

"The child who has learnt to stand straight and hold his head up has, other things being equal, a better chance of making his way in life than his. stooping, weak-kneed brother." It is pointed out that in many schools as many as 75 per cent, of the' children not only stand, badly, but have one or more!of tho minor deforpiities commonly associated with malpositions. Suclv games as "shinty," /'hurlyburly,'" and <(skittle ball" aro invoked by tho Board of Education as means to the platonic ideal of \ "Gymnastic for tho sake of.the soul." Tliey are tlireo out of a list of. somo 80 games recommended for use in schools—and tlio. platojiie' ideal'is introduced' by np less an authority th.a,u, Sir George- Newman, Chief Medical Officer of Health to tho Board, in' a" foreword to1 the board's new :syllab'us; 6B'physical train-' ing.": -: '•■■;..': : " : JBOTJtt rOR THE SOUL. 1 Harking back 2000 years, Sir Georgo1 quotes- with approval • Plato's •statemehtthat "tho conduct of a man in his exercise is a very important test of character;'and those who- establish a system' of education.in music an'd'gym-; nastio are not' actuated by the pur.-; pose of, applying the one to the improvement of tho soul and tho other to that of the body. They introduce bbttt mainly for -the sake of tho aoul.'' : "No education is worth anything," Sir George comments, ''which is not constructed, in part at least, of music and gymnastic in Plato's sense of the terms." Apart from physique it is urged that properly conducted exercises also develop a cheerful spirit, the qualities of alertness, decision, and concentration, and perfect control of mind over body. The new syllabus is the first innovation of tho kind since 1919, and is primarily intended for children between tho years of 5 and 11. It contains the fullest particulars not only of such old favourites as "French and English," and "hop scotch," but of. literally scores of "approved" games of which tho average reader will ; never have heard. In short, it is a complete manual of children's entertainment. . ■.;.

(Similar descriptions, • / accompanied by 107 illustrations, aro ,'giy.en of an even larger number of physical exercises, and 18.complete lessons"are outlined for the- guidance of schools. .