SCHOOL PHYSICAL EXERCISES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20870, 9 November 1929, Page 11

SCHOOL PHYSICAL EXERCISES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—A paragraph of paramount interest to thinking ’ parents of primary school children appeared in your issue of Thursday. I refer to the discussion by the Auckland Education Board on “ Health Exercises ” as carried out in primary schools, and the risk in health incurred through children being required to lie on the ground during their performance. Apparently, the Auckland children are more fortunate than those in these southern regions in that they do enjoy the luxury of lying on a good old sack. Of course, the weather being generally colder in Dunedin, the youngsters are expected to “crack hardy,” and the comfort of a sack is not to be thought of. The asphalt playground is considered to be the ideal surface on which to Recline. It matters nothing that Mary arrives home at mid-day with her clean frock plastered with tar, as mother will have lots of time to make a complete change of her apparel, in addition to her other trival household duties of preparing father’s dinner, giving baby its Plunbet ration, an d performing other unimportant tasks. During the winter months children of tender age are ordered to remove shoes and stockings to do toe-bending exercises on a bare, wooden floor. Is there any ) v nndcr, Sir, (that we have epidemics of influenza, croup, scarlet fever, and pulmonary troubles among the young fry? Probably 25 per cent, of strong men asked to do 10 minutes’ barefoot work on a wooden floor in winter would contract at least a heavy cold. It appears to me that the school physical experts have- run amok. If there is time to spare on this sort of thing, "why not use it to concen* trate on the “ three R’s ” or in teaching children ordinary common manners and how to show respect to their elders? The old-time exercises and healthy play in the open air were adequate for the parents of these children, ’and the sooner we revert to them the better for all. concerned, except, perhaps, the experts. I am not blaming the teachers, as they are powerless to interfere. Perhaps, a few other parents with abler pens would express their opinions.—l am, etc., ’ „ ' Observer. Dunedin, November 8.

TO THE EDITOR. . Sin, —I notice in your issue of the 6th inst. a special telegram from Auckland dealing with school children having to lie on sacks performing exercises. This same subject appears to require ventilation in these parts. During this past winter children of tender years have been required sometimes to take off boots and drill in stocking feet on dirty, dusty doors, .and at other times to remove 38 These practices in addition to being unhygienic and unhealthy result in much extra dirty washing for mothers. Worse still, little girls in the primary classes are required to sit on these self same. dusty floors and also on asphalt in the open, no sacks being provided, as in Auckland. Many °f the- children complain of feeling cold aH day after a spell of “squatting” on the KrtfUfitT. • This also results in their underclothes being made exceptionally dirty. Should a child demur about getting down to mother earth, it is forcibly pushed there. ' an L 8-ware that one member of the Uta.go Education Board is not favourable to these “ stunts,” but the board appears powerless to take action. It is a matter of gratification that the Auckland board is moving.—I am, etc.. Parent,