PHYSICAL TRAINING IN SCHOOLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 11

PHYSICAL TRAINING IN SCHOOLS.

MR JOHN H ANNA'S .SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. Mr John Hanna, organising teacher of physical education to the Boys' and Girl-.' High Schools of Otago, and the superintendent of physical training to the Education Board of Otago, returned to Dunedin on Wednesday in the Warrimoo, after a visit to the Home Country to ascertain what advancement has been made there of lato years in physical training in connection with the youth in the public schools and high schools, and to suggest improvements on the system of training adopted in Otago. Mr Hanna's visit, it would appear, was a very instructive one to him from every point of view, and the youth of Otago are likely to benefit to no small extent from the better instruction he will now be able to afford to them. On Thursday a Time 3 reporter called upon him, and learned some facts about his sojourn in the Old Land. | It was in December, 1883, thai Mr Hanna first took up the position of teacher of physical training to the Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools, and one thing among others for which he is truly thankful — and the fact has often been commented upon— is that during the whole of his career he has never had an accident. Since the date of his appointment, however, the methods of training have improved greatly, and as it wa3 impossible to appreciate the alterations as they required to be appreciated to understand and to gain their full benefit Mr Hanna decided to request permission to go Home to study the subject on the spot, and that permission wa3 gladly given to him not only by the Board of Governors of the High Schools, . but also by the Otago Education Board. " I understand, Mr Hanna," *»aid our representative, "you spent some time in various parts of the Old Country? " ' "Yes. I arrived at New Plymouth in

November, and my first visit was to Alder.shot, to go through a short course of instruction. That was arranged for me through the New Zealand Government and the authorities here. I did not know if I could learn much there, but there is no better school than Alderahot for seeing how the rudiments of physical training are taught, ! and I wished to see all that was taught. 1 also visited the neighbouring towns of Guild- j ford and Farnham, and was also fortunate in seeing the work that was being done in schools m London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamilton, Dundee. Belfast, and Aberdeen. In London I visited most of the public schools both in the city and in the suburbs, and saw a large number of classes of boys and girls go through their physical and gymnastic exercises. In Aberdeen I baw the students in the Physical Training College getting their instruction, and after seeing^ the tuition given in the different towns I visited I have come to the conclusion that tho most complete system of physical training carried on in connection with f-chool work is that which I 6aw in Aberdeen." "To what do you attribute this superiority V " " There is no doubt it is in a great measure due to the untiring efforts of Colonel Cruden, honorary secretary of the Aberdeen Physical Training College, in his promotion of physical training and otherwse. That is what I taw, and it was also what I heard from various sources. He~has done splendid service for the cause of physical education by his book, ' A Manual of Physical Culture and System of/ Mueical Drill.' I intend to recommend to our board that that book should be the one followed in tlio Province of Otas»o. 1 also intend to suggest that our present course should be added to by the introduction of a number of Colonel Cruden's physical exercises as they arc recommended in that book. In my I opinion that book is the one which should be followed as the most suitable for the training of children in. public schools. Of course, it is not far enough advanced for the training of the students in our higher schools, but that is a matter for the instructor who has got his pupils thoroughly grounded in the principles of the system of physical culture. Tho book, a copy of which Mr Hanna showed our reporter, is a masterpiece as a means of instruction. Every position is shown for the different exercises, so that with the book as his guide any teacher may with confidence give instruction to his pupils. It was only after giving the closest attention to the various systems of physical training that Mr Hanna decided to recommend it to the Otago Education Board as tho one that i«, in hip opinion, the moat complete for use in our schools. The author is George Cruden, M.A., lieutenant-colonel of the Ist Gordon Highlanders. It is a book that embodies the system of physical training carried out in Scotland at the present day. " How does the system of physical training in Otago compare with .the methods pursued at Home?" '• 1 consider the movement for the physical training of the' young people of New Zealand is * one better ' than in Aberdeen, for in nearly all our public schools we have flourishing cadet corps., in which boys are not only driUod, but also icc»i»o %. thorough trainincr in. muskt'-ry."

To an interviewer at Home Mr Hanna Fpoke of the high standard of excellence in. physical training which the pupils m the public schools of Otago have attained. Ha said they are looked upon by other provinces as being far ahead in the way of physical training. Nearly every school in Otago now possesses a gymnasium, complete with the best equipment, and the pupil teachers of the various schools went through a course of instruction under him for fc.ur years. If at the end of that time they passed the prescribed examination they were granted a certificate of proficiency, which was recognised in any province in the colony. Scotland, Mr Hanna thinks, is far ahead of England in the matter of physical education. In England they were only beginning' to do what had been, done in Aberdeen many year« ago. For instance, in the Alderfchot and Farnham districts thoy were only now sending out instructions jis to the training of teachers. As far as hp saw, the g:rls wore ahead of the boys in the London schools in smartness. Tn answer to another question. Mr Hanna admitted that he had got over a lot of ground and done no small amount of work, and he would' not have been able to do so if the inspectors -of the schools had not given him very hearty support. Naturally, he has a very high opinion of the value of physical education, believing that such training has a beneficial influence on the pupils, not only when they are at school, but afterwards, making them better men and wonvn, obedient to those in authority, yet possessing a sturdy independence, having welldeveloped bodies and being ready, from their training, to act coolly, yet with judgment and precision, in any emergency. As a teacher, he believes in firmness combined with kindness, making the pupils feel that they are being taught what is for their benefit and making them enjoy their exercise*. Tt may also be mentioned that Mr Hanna, visited the Corporation Swimming Baths in Glasgow and Aberdeen, with the view of reporting to the authorities in Dunedin on the bei-l arrangements for public baths. While at Home Mr Hanna was elected a member of the National Society of Physieat Culture.

A TYPICAL SOUTH AFRICAN STORE. O. R. Larson, of Bay Villa, Sundays River, Cape -Colony, conducts h store typical of South Africa, at which can be purchased anything from tho proverbial " needle to an anchor." This store is situited in a valley nine mile* froco the nearest railway station and about 25 miles from tl»p nearest town. Mr Larson says: — "I am favoured with the custom of farmers within a radius of 30 miles, to many of whom I ha\e supplied Chamberlain's remedies. All testify to their value in a household where a doctor'.s advice is almost out of the question.Within one mile* of my store the population is perhaps 60. Of the.^e, within the patfc 12 months, no less than 14 have been absolutely cured by Chamberlain's Cough Remedy. This must surely be a record."For sale by all dealers*

'An exchange slates that a passenger by the Rotomahana from Wellington to Lyttelton on Wednesday night had rather an unpleasant experience. When he went to bed in his cabin he put his puree, wirh £40 in notes in it, under his pillow. When he awoke at Lyttelton, however, the purse was Btill under the pillow, but tlie money had ill been extracted.

The Matauia Rivei ha- washed away part of the Otama road. A Young Men's Club is to be formed iv Balclutha. To formulate rules and regula tions, the following committee have been appointed : —Rev. S. W. Currie. Messrs J W. Wilson, J. A- Raynes, G. W. Hutchins, D. G. Algie. V. Ingram, W. Allan, J. Ryne, , T. Smclair, J. Watt. jiuu.