SPORT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 19388, 23 October 1926, Page 3

SPORT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

A BIS ORGANISATION With the near_ approach of Iho annual sports meeting eomlucted by tlio School Sports Association an account of the many and varied outside act iviucs of our school teachers may no oi ■ interest to parents and an eye-opener j to the general public. It is known to few, apart from those intcr- , ested, what a great amount of time 1 outside their ordinary duties is devoted - by teachers to training, coaching, ; supervising matches, and controlling the various sporting competitions throughout the year. Football, cricket, hockey, basket ball, tennis, swimming, running, and jumping, all in their season make big demands upon the time and energy of teachers. But this time is willingly given week after week, with no desire for recognition—indeed, iho only reward the teacher expects—and ho certainly gets it—is the wholehearted enjoyment and enthusiasm of his young charges. Games—cricket and football chiefly—have always been carried on in the schools—in some enthusiastically, in others Jess so, the interest dependent upon the voluntary efforts of some one member of the ■ staff. Now, to some one member of the staff is assigned the duties of sports master, under whoso .direction, and with the co-operation of other members of the school staff, systematic attention is given to many branches of sport in each, school. The whole of these sports activities in the primary schools have been thoroughly organised during the past five years under the Public Schools Sports Association, a body working under a definite constitution. At an.annual meeting of teachers an executive of ten is appointed to decide matters of policy, and various sub-com-mittees, each with its own chairman and secretary, are selected to control the different branches of sport.- 'Willing teachers, however, may be found acting upon more than one sub-committee. During the football season of 1926 school teams to the number of fortythree have taken part in the Rugby game, 800 boys playing in the weekly fixtures,_ while fifteen teams played Association, raising the number to 1,000 boys receiving coaching and re‘fiolw football practice, .The coaching

of players takes time—being with the boys on match clay takes more time; but the teacher finds it. Eighteen teams of girls played in iho basket ball competition, and fifteen hockey teams had to be provided for weekly. In cricket games thirty-three teams competed, and when we add those who did not find places in tho teams, possibly 500 boys are receiving cricket practice. The supply of material for all these games is a matter of no small concern for those in control. Some schools have to manage with little, but in most cases school committees loyally rise to tho occasion and free teachers from all anxiety in this direction. All honor to them. In addition to these regular activities there is the big event of,the year, the championship sports meeting. To those interested in field and running events this is truly a delightful day—keenly fought events, intense interest, shrill cheers, whole-hearted enthusiasm. But what of the organisation? Twelve hundred entries—all event* to bo got through in live hours—a truly immense undertaking. The making up of tho programme alone is a heavy work. This and the hundred and one other arrangements require many weel.h of work by tho association prior to the groat day; while on the day itself nothing but iho most efficient organisation and executive could carry through successfully such a big meeting. Finally, some profits have been made as a result of the success of those meetings,_ and this year a large sum was distributed to school committees by the association, the money to he used in fostering sport in the schools.