SPORT IN SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19003, 27 October 1923, Page 17

SPORT IN SCHOOLS.

TEACHERS DISSATISFIED. IS THEIR WORK RECOGNISED? (Pkb United Pars? Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 25. Whether the time devoted by teachers to the fostering and the development of school games was recognised by the Education Department was the reason for a meeting today between Mr Caughley (Director of Education) and a representative gathering of teachers. Various speakers said that there was a feeling amongst the teachers that their work towards school sports was not being recognised by the Department. The inspector’s visits were not extended to the school games. As far as they knew, the inspectors' did not make any effort to discover what individual teachers did towards the cultivation of school sport. This work had a great deal of irifluence on the children, and it should he recognised. In the course of his reply, Mr Caughley paid that the Department was anxious to facilitate matters m every way. Since the discussion concerning teachers and school games had arisen he had met three groups of inspectors who said that in their grading they always consulted (he report of the physical Inspector. In addition, the head masters were questioned as to the respective efforts of the teachers in the promotion of school gams. One group of inspectors showed reports in which teacher after teacher had been mentioned for his or her good work in connection with the fostering of school snorts. Ho flatly contradicted the idea abroad that this work by the teachers was not recognised by the department. The annual sports at Lancaster Park were quoted as an example of the enthusiasm of the Canterbury teachers when there was no question of any personal monetary gain. To make doubly sure and to set the minds of those present at rest, Mr Caughley said that a circular would bo sent to the inspectors instructing them to make the fullest inquiry into the amount ot work devoted by teachers to games. At the same time he impressed upon his hearers that this was now being done by inspectors in the matter of grading, and, really, at all times.