AWARDS TO SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 16

AWARDS TO SCHOOLS

DECREASE IN NUMBER In spile of the fact that weather conditions during the past season did not offer the same opportunities for swimming as those the previous season, the number of awards compared very favourably with tho record issue of the 1931-35 season, stated the report presented at the annual meeting of the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association last night by tho educational officer, Mr. D. Saunders. A big decrease was noticeable in awards to city schools depending upon local baths for testing pupils. This was, no doubt, due to the reluctance of parents to allow children to attend baths that they believed were the cause of ear and throat infection. In districts outside the city there was a considerable increase in swimming activity. As pointed out previously, stated the report, the educational work among the children was not receiving the attention it warranted, either from tho centre of from many of the swimming clubs. Tho money spent in sending large teams away to compete in provincial championships would, bo more widely used if allocated to educational wort among tho schools. An annual grant by tho centre to its educational funds was overdue. Tho report further stated that the reverting to Ihc free issue of awards to tho children greatly increased the demand. The issue for tho last threo years was shown by the following table: — 1033-34 1931-35 1935-36 Cent re certificates .. 2,258 4,227 4,1 IS Schools' Assoc. (25yds.) 004 1,572 1.486 Life-saving awards . 07 200 256 Totals . . 2,989 0,005 5,800 Special certificates granted by the New Zealand Council to schools whose total awards exceeded 51 per cent of tho roll number of the standard classes were gained by the Nukuhou, Onerahi, Opua. Pnkckaroro, Rahiri Native, Tutekehua and Te Akau Schools. An analysis of the awards showed that they covered tho various degrees of ability as follows: —Beginners, 1480; learners, 2031; proficiency, 1300; merit, 775; life-saving, 282. A tribute was paid (o the work done in encouraging swimming by Mr. C. 10. Barnard and Mr. K. C. Keid, physical instructor at the Teachers' Training College. In thanking Mr. Saunders for his report, I lie chairman. Mr. T. (\ Hobbs-Jones, mentioned that tho educational officer was formulating plans for the holding of a "learn-to-swim" week in Auckland during the coming summer. This campaign would be promoted in conjunction with the Royal Life-saving Society and the Surf Life-saving Association (Auckland).