PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 August 1924, Page 4

PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION. VISIT BY MISS BLACKIE. Miss H. Wingate Blackie, physical instructress under the Education Department, is now engaged iu the Taranaki and Wanganui districts, in which every school is being visited. Lately she has been visiting a number of schools near Hawera. There was a slight break in the continuity of her work, as it was necessary for her to go to Wellington for the purpose of giving instruction to the teachers attending the .training college; but she has now resumed. Miss Blackie is deeply interested in her work, and her visits to schools are always appreciated, both by teachers and scholars. Interviewed by a Hawera Star representative, Miss Blackie said that she had several years’ experience in her present work. She has already covered the greater part of the North Island, and has, on different occasions, had charge of classes at Dunedin, Invercargill, and Wellington. The subject, as taken throughout the schools of the Dominion, includes ordinary Swedish movements, of which, breathing exercises form an important part, marching, dancing, and games, and in some cases swimming and life-saving. The primary aim is health, followed by muscular and mental control. The effects are threefold, the first being physical, which is shown in improved posture and muscular development generally. The second is physiological, and is shown in more thorough functional activity; and the third is psychological, and is shown in alertness, decision, quickness of thought, fair play, moral courage, and self-discipline. The time allowed by the department for teaching is a mini, mum of 15 minutes dai|y, : hut in many education districts the time devoted to the subject -is a quarter of an hour daily, with an additional halfhour each week for sports. Generally, Miss Blackie found that the subject receives regular and systematic attention from the teachers, and the fact that a desire for refresher courses is commonly expressed by the teachers proves how great their interest is. In support of these refresher courses Miss Blackie said that while the fundamental principles do not change, -new ideas and suggestions are constantly coming from England and America, and in teaching such a subject it is very easy to drop into a set way of doing things which does not always give the best results. Miss Blackie regards these refresher courses as very desirable, but the department, on the grounds of expense, has so far refused to sanction them.

Speaking of the consideration shown for children at school, she said that during the last few years tooth-brush drill had been instituted in most of the schools in Taranaki and Wanganui. In some schools mid-day cocoa was served, and in one school soup was, provided for the children. She saw them having soup, and they certainly seemed to appreciate it. In the physical condition of Taranaki children Miss Blackie said she noticed more evidence of lack of what she called “tone” and vitality than she had observed in any other district except Otago Central. This lack of tone was noticeable in the blueness of the skin and want of control in the muscles of the hands and so on. She commented upon one very pleasing feature of school life in Taranaki, and that was the appreciation of fair play exhibited by the chihjreu, and ,the feeling of friendliness and understanding between them and the teachers.