PHYSICAL TRAINING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15602, 4 November 1912, Page 2

PHYSICAL TRAINING

DRILL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. NEW SCHEME OUTLINED. STAFF OF INSTRUCTORS. (From Oun Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, November 3. Scientific exercises in physical drill conduolid by special instriictoi'o working in cooperation with the recently appoJittd medical inspectors are to be made compulsory for all children attending primary schools. Tne scheme hats been formulated in its broad lines, and will be brought imo operation as soon as the instructors "have been selected. Elementary military training will be optional for tho older boys at primary sohools, kit ai only physical drill will be compulsory the establiduuc/nt of lio scheme will _ complete tho demilitarisation of tho junior cadets.

The scheme will bo controlled by the Department of Education. Its general structure was planned by the Minister of Education (tho lion. James Allen! himself. His proposals were submitted to a oompotont advisory committee, which approved them and mado recommendations in regard to details. Tho latoor wero reviewed by tho Innpector-gcneral of Sohools, at'<l ho in turn approved the scheme. The advisory committee consulted by the Minister comprised the Inspector-general of Sohools (Mr O. Ifoghcn), Dr llardwiek Smith (medical superintendent of the Wellington ncepiwil), Major-general Godley (Commandnnt of the New Zealand Forces), Mr lloyd Garliek (an expert in physical traming). Dr Elizabeth Gunn (one of tho mrdio.il inspectors of schools), and Mrs Heap (dircntrcFH of physical training at the Auckland Girls' Grammar School). The reports agree that compulsory military training as organised in the junior eadeU should lie replaced by compulsory graduated and organised physical training for all lwys and girls in the primary schools, military drill being left to 1>; taken up voluntarily in those 9ohools that desire to toko it tip, arid the commandant of junior cadets and his staff being replaced by a director of physical training and a qualified staff.

DRILL ON SCIRM'IFIO LINES. With the object of improving tho health and the physique c[ the youth of tho dominion, physical drill on scientific lines is to bo given to ail boys and girls throughout their attondnnco at primary schools. The drill will consist of approved graduated exorcises, during short periods every day under tho direction o( the teachers, and will bo compulsory for all children exoept those exempted on medical gnryiinds. General principles for the guidance of school teachers have boon stated l>v the Advisory Committee. It rccommojHled iha-t the exercises should include some for elans room as well as for the open air. As far an possible physical exercises of young children will be- taken quite apart from those of the older children and girls and lwys will bo dr Hod rernaratoly. The committee nl*o considered that men (rollers should train older boys and' women teachers should train girls. The wearing of suitable dress and shoes without heels will bo encouraged. Instniction of ordinary physical exercises f-liould bo given for 10 to IS minutes r>"r day and out of flows if prwiihle. In addilion to the regular drill, the con:mst.lco ndviswl that before every Ifiwm three to five minutes should be devotwl to breathing cxercip"s and other simple nhysicnl exercises in fresh air, and not less than Ihroo of llioso shorter lessons should lw taken every day. AIM OF Til 13 TRAINING. In order that the drill shall not bo monotonous, it is intended that it should bo varied by organised games, such as basket ball. It will bo correlated with tho lessons in first aid, life-saving, swimming, etc., for which provision is mado in tho public schools syllabus and in tho regulations for manual instruction. The. training will also be coordinated with tho lessons and training which tho syllabus of instruction in publio scWs directs to bo given under tho heads of moral instruction, civics, and health, with the aim of encouraging character-forma-tion, including discipline, self-restraint, stnso of duty to others, and to tho 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 avtitudo towards the system, on the part of tho children, a limited iiumiwr of badges will bo awarded to fdicol prefects and cljik; monitors for combination of moral character, efficiency in physical exercises, and good influence exercised in various parts oi tho school life. Certain resiwnsibibtios will bo entrusted to wearers of these- badges. Tho committeo also recommended that endorsements should bo mado on tho certificates of teachers displaying special exoollcnoo in physical instruction. RECORD OF RESULTS. An important adjunct of tho schemo will bo an accurate observation of results. I record card will be kept for each child containing particulars of its physical development, and theso will bo useful in determining CMOS requiring special treatment. Tho cards will a'so provido instructive statistics regarding tho effects of the training.

( BOYS OVER TWELVE YEAitS. Tho s,uno drill wiil be prescribed for boili boys uud girls uniier Vi years of age, but those. 01 that age and upwurua will icceivo different training. \uili a view to their subsequent entrance into tlio senior cadets, theso bovs are, in addition to the comnulsory physical training, to do a Jittlo squad and company drill (not exceeding null an hour per week of seiiooi iiniej, practisti sliooting wnli air rirtos, varied by lessons ill Hag-signalling, knotting and eplicmg, fading tiie pouus of tlio compass, and other tiimilar exercises. Tho assistance of a non-comiuw-sii>ncd olliccr will bo given by uiu Deloueo Department where military drill is taught, and any such drill will bo subject to ins|>ection by an ollicer appointed by tho Commandant of tho Forces, and by whom a report will bo made to tlio Minister of Education For military drill only light •'daintny" rifles will bo used. Tho present junior cadet uniforms (except tho caps) will be utilised during drill instruction, and will also bo used (with tho caps) by boys who nro old enough to receive the elementary military training. In all other rc-pcels tlio present junior cadet system will be abolished, and only officers holding commissions in Ihe senior cadets or territorial forces will be allowed to wear uniforms or oarry swords, but tlio present junior oadct officers will be encouraged to take commissions in tho senior cadets and territorials.

TRAINING OF GIRLS. Special recommendations wero invited by the Minister in regard to the training oi tlio elder girls, wiwi a view to embuing them whit an appreciation of the value oi homo life and ol impressing them with tho special importance ot their future lives and the necessity of properly equipping themselves for their Responsibilities. The committee recommended that girls must toko tho compulsory physical exercises up to tho lime of leaving school. After twelve years of ago iliey should receive once a week special exercises, including abdominal exercises a;id balance movements, and breathing exercises in the supine position. Instruction is recommended in elementary physiology, within the range indicated by the preliminary note on physiology in the English Board of Education syllabus, and in perwoiul hygiene, special attention being paid to caro of tho teeth and the mouth, cleanliness, importance of good habits in eating and drinking, and tho valuo of fresh air and cleanliness in the home. A modified first aid and homo nursing cotiifc, with special attention to tho latter subject, is recommended, anil tlio 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 oilier means of avoiding waste. Where possible, housewifery should bo taught jn a hostel or a flat set apart for tho ]mrposc. Encouragement will bo given to school excursions for ;he purpose of Xature Btudy and other forms of original observation.

STAFF OF INSTRUCTORS. The responsibility of tho 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 cchooU. Ten qualified jicrsoiis (live men and live women) will bo appointed as instructors antl iiis|x>etor6, ami one of the women will have special charge under the director, of the physical 'training of girls. These instructors will bo given a special course to equip them thoroughly for the work, and will also bo 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 the direction of the training along sciwific lines, with 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 "vith the efficers of the Kdiieaiion lioards, s/id on the other hand with tho medical inspectors of schools.