TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE

Southland Times, Issue 21716, 31 May 1932, Page 3

TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE

EASTERN SOUTHLAND. To assist school teachers in their introduction to the new system of physical instruction, the executive of the Eastern Southland Teachers’ Institute arranged for a demonstration to be held at the Gore School on Saturday. There was a large and representative attendance of over 40 members, over whom Mr L. A. McKenzie presided. After expressing his pleasure at such a large meeting, and welcoming new members to the district, Mr McKenzie explained the purpose of the meeting. While teachers had taken up the new system with enthusiasm, and the children were readily adapting themselves to the movements, it was felt by the executive that some exercises were of such an unfamiliar nature that a demonstration by an expert might be of considerable practical assistance in supplementing the explanatory notes in the textbook. For this reason the executive had arranged with Mr H. Bringans, who had just completed a third year course in physical training, and who was now stationed at the Mataura School to conduct a demonstration with the aid of pupils from the Mataura and Gore schools. With the first squad Mr Bringans demonstrated the exercises calculated to produce correct standing posture and correct walking, with the second squad corrective exercises, and with the third squad quickening exercises and games. At the close of the demonstration Mr L. A. McKenzie thanked the boys and girls from Mataura who had assisted. In moving a vote of thanks to Mr Bringans, Mr J. H. Park said that they, as teachers, felt that there was a great deal in the exercises introduced into the schools, and it was with a desire that they might be enabled to do the very best for the pupils that the executive had invited Mr Bringans to give the demonstration. Mr Bringans was enthused with his _ subject, and those present were delighted that he so willingly acceded to their request. The motion was carried by acclamation, after several members had expressed the wish that a further demonstration be held later in the year.