PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20232, 18 October 1927, Page 6

PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

WORK AT NORMAL SCHOOL. A WEEK’S SCHEDULE. 111. We have published articles regarding pnstura] exercises and physical exercises that are being used by Mr J. Renfrew White in his experimental work at the J'micdin Normal School in Union street. The following example of a week’s work, gleaned by a Daily Times representative, if read in conjunction with the two articles mentioned above, will give a good idea of the work that is being tried out. It is necessary to remember that the children are grouped in squads of about six, and each group is taken by a student from the training college. They are supervised by Miss Dickson, instructress to the Education Department, Miss Tuckwell, of the Rena Clavering School of Physical Culture, and Mr White, who keeps an eye on the work generally. Those familiar with the present system in use in the schools, or the work in the army or navy, will have little difficulty in visualising the various movements. Many arc precisely the same as those in use in the systems named. They are given different names, and are sometimes applied in unorthodox ways, but an examination will show that the mechanics of the movements are as laid down by Ling in his Swedish system, which incidentally has over 2000 classified movements to choose from. A WEEK’S WORK. First Day.—Running, marching, active and passive standing against and away from a well. Head correction. Trunk bending downward. Shoulder correction. Instep arching. , Explanation.—All these movements are explained under the headings of “ Poa» tural Training ’’ or “ Physical Exercises ” in previous articles. Second Day.—Skipping, marching, teach stretch marching, jumping jacks, shoulder correction, wheel, trunk forward _ bend, toe drill, dry-land swim, game (O’Grady Says). Explanation.—Skipping is the same as usual, except that the toes of the foot being skipped on do not leave the floor. The knee is well raised. Marching as usual. Stretch marching is “ marching on the toe,” in this case with hands at “ neck rest.” Jumping jacks is astride jumping with arms swinging sideways and downwards. Shoulder correction, wheel, trunk forward bend are all explained in the previous articles already referred to. Toe drill is ” heels raise. Foot forward place. Feet changing with a jump.” The base is shorter than usual. Dry-land swim, as in previous articles. Game as usual. Third Day.—Marching, stretch march, hop march, trunk downward bend, head correction, salaam, instep arching, dryland swim, teach crested hen. Explanation.—Marching and stretch march have been explained. Hop marching is the usual “ hopping with knee raising,” but in this hop the feet barely leave the floor. Trunk . downward bend, head correction, salaam, instep arching, _ and dry-land swim have been explained, either above or in previous articles. Crested hen is a Danish folk dance, with a characteristic step of “ hopping with knee raising.” Fourth Day.—Skipping, marching, hop march, stiff jumps, wheel, small arm circles, salaam, shoulder correction, crested hen. Explanation.—Skipping, marching, and hop march have been dealt with. Stiff jumps is an exercise known as “ first skipping step ’’ or “ bouncing balls.” Wheel has already been dealt with. Small arm circles, “ arms sideways raise ” hands to describe circles of about a foot in diameter in fairly quick time . Both forward and backward. Salaam, shoulder correction, crested hen have all been dealt with previously. This is a typical programme of work to cover a school week. The fifth day is occupied by taking some of the work to music, the groups all being taken as one class. For the special information of teachers we will publish a further article giving the places in the Education Department’s Syllabus of Physical Training for Schools, 1920, where the above exercises can be found, and this will allow those that are interested to see what the exercises that are being experimented with at the Normal School are very similar to those at present in use.