ORGANISED GAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16204, 14 April 1916, Page 6

ORGANISED GAMES.

POPULAR INNOVATION.

TECHNICAL SCHOOL OUTING, •

SPORT IN THE DOMAIN.

The theory that organised play as well as organised work should have its placn in the curriculum of every school is becoming increasingly popular. There are now many who believe that the true education of boys and girls should serve to make their bodies sound and healthy, as well as to develop and cultivate their micdi. All schools have long had their drill and physical culture periods, also their sports clubs, but within recent year* the ilea of organised play as an important part of the school curriculum, instead of as something quito apart from school activities, has fouwd favour with '.he more advanced educationalists.

The Auckland Technical College is th« first institution in New Zealard to make a definite move aiorg these lines, how. ever, and has set the lead by devotia, one afternoon every week to organised play, and making attendance compulsory. This is quite a recent innovation, having been in effect only since the beginning of. the present term, but teachers and scholars alike have taken up the idea with great enthusiasm.

Games in the Cricket Ground. Every Wednesday afternoon the whole school, scholars and staff, adjourn to the Domain i ricket Ground, where boys and girls alike my rur and play and enjoy themselvi-a to their hearts' content. Si a an outing took place last Wednesday, when over 400 scholars of all ages spent a couple of hours at various gamer-. ?:Kty of non-sw'ra-ming boys were taken to the tepij baths, it "being the intention of the doctor, Mr. Oeorge George, to have every boy and girl in the school taught to swim, unless, of tourse, they are physically debarred from this exercise. The scene in the Domain was one of interest and excitement. At»ue end of the ground were the girl;, trim and businesslike in their f!ym.np-sium suits of navy blue. They vera playing cricket and rounders. Over on the other side of the field the boys were playing the game games, while an interesting cricket match was goin? on between the masters and the college, first eleven.

Beneficial Effects.

Shortly before four o'clock tH whistle sounded, and in a few moments % procession of boys and girls with flushed cheek* and faces literally sparkling with a 'o»d health, bounded up the steps to the dicss-ing-rooma in the pavilion. "'the great point with regar.i to organised play in in making it compulsory, remarked Mr. George. ''The 'mly excuse we. accept ;'s a doctor's certificate. Under the prevailing system of tport in schools the good players, the boys and girls keen on sport and games, form into clubs, and the child who doesn't know how to play and perhaps isn't kcea on learning, is left oit in the cola. T.ots of our children simply don't know bos- to play, and by instituting these weekly outings we are abie to teach ;licm under it-he best conditions."

Questioned as to whethe t. a school syllabus had been curtailed i.i any way to allow of the weekly outing, Mi. Georgs explained that the time »v, vac • un by adding 20 minutes ouch day to' this school hours, else*'* commencing five minutes earlier in. * : a morning, and dismissing a-quater of ;,- novr in the afternoon. "Nobody nonces such a slight increase," said he, and a whoio afternoon spent out in the sii.Tshins and fresh air more "lan compensates for the extra time in college. On days when the weaih-i will not permit of outdoor sport, the Wednesday afternoon will be given to lectures at th'» college on various phase? of sprt for ths boys, and the girls will either go swim« ming at the tepid baths, or spend the time in the gymnasium. During the winter months hockey, besVt-iball, and football will bo played iu Edition to other games; so that rw.oiars -rril! have a libeial choice as to bow they will spend the afternoon