SWIMMING IN SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 19326, 12 August 1926, Page 14

SWIMMING IN SCHOOLS

TIABHISS THE CHILDREH' Over 1,000 children from fifteen primary ' and seven secondary schools attend the Dunedin municipal baths for swimming lessons during the course ol each vear. , ■ , . . A few years ago the Government paid 2s (id capitation ou each child, but the capitation fees were stopped, the Otago Education Board being the only boaid in the dominion that pays for swimming tuition for children under its jurisdiction. In all other centres the boards stopped sending children to swimming classes. ' The hours of tuition in Dunedin arc shorter now than they were a few years ago, when the capitation fees were paid by the Govcnrment, but the children have made good headway under tho tuition of the instructor (Air Jt. ±l. Olds). Tho duration of each lesson is half an hour, and class follows class every morning throughout the week, thirteen lessons being given to the gins and the same number to the boys each year. They are taught the crawl stroke and the various exercises leading up to a good fundamental knowledge of . that method. . , . ■ Too often when children are being taught to swim tho more timid among them are accorded the wrong treatment, with the result that they never roallv overcome their inherent fear ol the "first plunge. Under the experienced guidance of Dunedin’s intrsuctor, however, such methods are not adopted, and timid children are not forced into the water. Some of them do not actually swim at first, but they _ acquire knowledge and confidence, which they are able to put to use later on. Some interesting information was given to a ‘ Star ’ reporter recently byMr Olds in regard to the girls’ classes for 1926. At the beginning of tho year they totalled some 450 girls, of whom only twenty-five could swim. After four lessons 167 could swim quite a number of strokes, and three lessons later the number had reached 202. At the end of the thirteen lessons there were only fifty girls who' could not swim, but all of these knew how to float and to move the arms and legs. Delicate children and those who catch colds easily are found in the ranks of the non-swimmers, but every child able, strong, and willing should soon learn to swim under the modern methods that are employed, and in the course of time might become very expert. This year s classes especially have produced more embryo champions than any since the opening of the baths; and it has to ho remembered that all the school champions and several New' Zealand champions learnt the rudiments of swimming at these classes, enabling Otago to hold its own with other much longer established centres. Tho girls’ classes started in the warmer months earlier in the. year, but somewhat later than usual owing to the Exhibition. The boys are yet to have their turn when tho baths reopen, and the host of both classes will be pitted in competition to test their ability as swimmers. The figures show that the classes are attended by 420 primary school hoys and 420 girls, 100 in an advanced Girls High School class, 280 hoys and girls from six other secondary schools, making a grand total of 1,220. Tho lessons primarily are designed to teach tho children to swim. Proficiency comes only through practice, and plenty of practice is essential if good swimming is tho goal.