PHYSICAL DRILL IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15142, 5 November 1912, Page 5

PHYSICAL DRILL IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

A COMPULSORY SYSTEM.

OUTLINE OF THE SCHEME. STAFF OF ELEVEN INSTRUCTORS. Scientific exercises in physical drill conducted by special instructors working in co-operation with, the recently-appointed medical inspectors are to be made compulsory for all children attending primary schools. The scheme has been formulated in its broad lines, and will be .brought into operation as soon as the instructors have been selected. Elementary military training will be optional for the older boys .at primary schools, but as only physical drill will be compulsory the establishment of the scheme will complete the demilitarisation of the junior cadets. The scheme will be controlled by the Department of Education. Its general structure was planned by the Minister for Education (Hon. James Allen) himjself. His proposals were submitted to a competent advisory committee, which approved them and made recommendations in regard to details. The latter were reviewed by the Inspector-General of Schools, and he in turn approved the scheme. The advisory committee consulted by the Minister comprised the Inspector-General of Schools (Mr. G. Hogben), Dr. Hardwick Smith (medical superintendent of the Wellington Hospital), Major-General Godley (Com' mandant of the New Zealand Forces), Mi.. Royd Garlick (an expert in physical training), Dr. Elizabeth Gunn (one of the medical inspectors of schools), and Mrs. Heap (directress of physical training at the Auckland Girls' Grammar School). The reports agree that compulsory military training as organised in the junior cadets should be replaced, by compulsory graduated and organised physical training for all boys and girls in the primary schools, military drill being left to be taken up voluntarily in those schools that desire to take it up, and the commandant of junior cadets and his staff being replaced by a director of physical training and a qualified staff.

Drill on Scientific Lines. With tho object of improving the health and the physique of the youth of the Dominion, physical drill on scientific lineS is to be given to all boys and girls throughout their attendance at primary schools. The drill will consist of approved graduated exercises, during short periods every day under tho direction of the teachers, and will .bo compulsory for all children except those exempted on medical grounds. General principles /for tho guidance of school-teachers have been stated by the Advisory Committee. It recommended that the cxercuies should include some for classroom as well as for the open air. As far as possible physical exercises of young children will be taken quite apart from those of tho older children, and girls and boys will be drilled separately. The committee also considered that men teachers should train older boys and women teachers should train girls. The wearing of suitable dress and shoes without heels will be encouraged. Instruction of ordinary physical exercises should be given from 10 to 15 minutes per day and out of doors, if Possible. In addition to the regular drill, the committee advised that before every lesson three to five minutes should be devoted to breathing exercises and other simple physical exercises in fresh air, and not lees'than throe of these shorter lessons should "be taken every day.

Aim of tha Training. In order that the drill shall not be monotonous, it is intended that it should be varied by organised games, such as baaktball. It will be correlated with the lessons in first-aid, life-saving, swimming, etc., for which provision is made in the public schools syllabus and in the ' regulations for manual instruction. The training will also be co-ordinated with the lessons and training which the syllabus of instruction in public schools directs to be given under the heads of moral instruction, civics, and health, with the aim of encouraging character-formation, including discipline, self-restraint, sense of duty to others, and to the State. With this object, boys and girls will bo made to feel that • their physical development is largely a matter of their own individual responsibility. For the encouragement of this attitude towards the system, on the part of the children, a limited number of badges will b9 awarded ■ to school prefects and ckas monitors for combination of moral character, efficiency in physical exercises, and good influence exercised in various parts of the school life. Certain responsibilities will be entrusted to wearers of these badges. The committee also recommended that endorsements should be made on the certificates of teachers displaying special excellence in physical instruction.

Record of Results.

An important adjunct of the scheme will bo an accurate observation of results. A record card will be kept for each child containing particulars of its physical development, and these will be useful in determining cases requiring special treatment. Tho cards will also provide instructive statistics regarding the effects of the training.

Boys Over Twelve Years. The same drill will be prescribed for both boys and girls under 12 years of age, but those of that age and upwards will receive different training. With a view to their subsequent entrance into the senior cadets, these boys are, in addition to the compulsory physical training, to do a little squad and company drill (not excocding half-an-hour per week of school time), practice shooting with air rifles, varied by lesson 3 in flag-signalling, knotting and splicing, finding the points of the compass, and other similar exercises. The assistance of a non-commissioned officer will be given by the Defence Department where military drill is taught, and any such drill will'be subject to inspection by an officer appointed by the Commandant of the Forces, and by whom a report will bo made to the Minister for Education. For military drill only light " dummy'' rifles will bo used. The present junior cadet uniforms (except the caps) will bo utilised during drill instruction, and will also be used (with the caps) by boys who are.old enough to receive the elementary military training. In all other respects the present junior cadet system will be abolished, and only officers holding commissions in tho senior cadets or territorial forces will bo allowed to wear uniforms or carry swords, but the present junior cadet officers will be encouraged to take commissions in the senior cadets and territorials. Training of Girls. \ Special recommendations were invited by the Minister in regard to the training of the elder girls, with a view to imbuing them with an appreciation of the value of home life and of impressing them with the special importance of their future Hve3 and the necessity of properly equipping themselves for their responsibilities. Tho, committee recommended that girls must take the compulsory physical exercises up j to the time of leaving school. After 12 years of ape they should receive once a week special exercises, including abdominal | exercises and balance movements, and j breathing exercises in the supine position, j Instruction is recommended in elementary , physiology, within the range indicated by I the preliminary note on physiology in the ' English Board of Education syllabus, and j in personal hygiene, special attention being paid to care of the teeth and the mouth, cleanliness, importance of good habits in eating and drinking, and the value of fresh air and cleanliness in the home. A modified first aid and homenursing course, with special attention to the latter subject, is? recommended and the principles of plain cooking should bo

taught practically, with special regard to the price of goods used, to the utilising of cold meat and vegetables, and other means of avoiding waste. Where possible, housewifery should be taught in a hostel or a flat set apart for the purpose. Encouragement will bo given to school excursions for the purpose of nature study and other forms of original observation. Staff of. Instructors. The responsibility of the new system will be entrusted to a director of physical training, who, being himself thoroughly trained in the principles, will direct and inspect the training in the schools. Ten qualified persons (five men and five women) will be appointed as instructors and inspectors, and one of the women, will have special charge under the director of the physical training of girls. These instructors will be given a special course to equip i them thoroughly for the' work, and will also be given refresher courses from time to time. When they have entered upon their duties, the instructors will conduct classes for teachers, and upon their visits of inspection will give most of their attention to tho direction of the training along scientific lines, w;ith especial care to cases of children calling for individual treatment. In all matters the director and the instructors will act in conjunction on the one hand with tho officers of the education boards, and on the other hand with the mimical inspectors of schools.