TEACHERS IN TRAINING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18801, 2 March 1923, Page 9

TEACHERS IN TRAINING

DISPLAY OF PHYSICAL EXERCISES.

There was a large attendance of teachers and leaders in educational affairs at the Kensington Drill Hall yesterday afternoon to witness a striking demonstration of physical drill and exercises by all the Training College students and tlie male pupil teachers and probationers of the city and suburban schools. They have just completed their annual fortnight's physical training. Under arrangement between the Education Board and the Defence Department, the year’s territorial drill of the men is taken at the same period. The object of the training is not only to benefit the members of the classes personally but to fit them to give effective physical instruction to the children under their care. Mr Longworth, chief physical instructor for New Zealand, was not present yesterday, but he had inspected the classes the previous day and expressed high appreciation of the work that had been done. All the schools closed early yesterday to enable the staffs to be present to witness the demonstration in which about 180 girls and SO men took part. When formed up in extended order for exercises they occupied practically all the floor space of the big hall. They presented a very pleasing and attractive spectacle to the visitors that lined the gallery. Mr A. E. Eoydhouse, the Otago Education Board’s chief physical instructor, had charge of the proceedings, and had the assistance of Miss Blackburn and Mr Mountford, of Wellington, Miss Dickson (Dunedin), and Mr Reid, of Invercargill, who have all been associated with him in the past fortnight’s work The demonstration opened with a march past of all the classes, followed by a massed exhibition of a typical table of exercises of individual movements. Mr Eoydhouse meanwhile explained the various movements, and drew attention to points of particular interest to the watching teachers. Several separate classes then gave demonstrations of different departments of the work. Girls under Mr Mountford gave a creditable exhibition of individual exercises. Miss Dickson’s girls followed with exercises of a more recreational character for junior classes. These for the most part resolved themselves into relay races in one form or another. The exercises shown by Miss Blackburn’s class introduced various pretty dancing steps, and were obviously enjoyed by the girls taking part. The men under Mr Eeid showed recreational exercises and games, including several strenuous pushing and pulling contests that caused much amusement to the onlookers. The concluding part of the display was a demonstration by all the classes of a typical table of exercises for 1 senior standards put through in minimum time. They occupied exactly 10 minutes, as a matter of fact, though Mr Eoydhouse indicated that they might at times be completed in seven or eight. The whole display was a hnost instructive one, and the precision and order with which a wide variety of movements and exercises were executed and the happy, healthy, and alert appearance of the whole band reflected distinct credit on the instructors who have had then in charge.