BOYS’ PHYSIQUE

Southland Times, Issue 22856, 3 April 1936, Page 9

BOYS’ PHYSIQUE

GOOD STANDARD AT HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS EXAMINED That the primary school pupils who this year entered the Southland Boys’ High School are of much higher physical standard that the junior boys at the Wellington College was made apparent at an examination conducted at the school yesterday afternoon. Of the 93 boys who entered the school this year, only 20.5 per cent, had defective general posture. This included those with round shoulders. There were four cases of slight curvature, 13 cases of flat feet and 14 cases of biting the fingernails. No instances were found of malnutrition, underweight or under-growth. An analysis of the weights of firstyear boys, taken from as far back as 1913, disclosed that the average weight had been steadily increasing. From 1913 to 1919 the average weight of each boy was 931 b.; for the period 1935-36 the average was 961 b. The rector, Dr. G. H. Uttley; said that the classrooms at the school provided every opportunity for boys to gain correct posture. Tables and chairs were in use—with one exception—in every classroom. Each boy also had his own locker.

Dr. Uttley mentioned that the school physical instructor, Mr J. Page, attributed some cases of incorrect posture to the way boys carried their school bags. Those who carried their bags over one shoulder were inclined to “lean” to that side. Mr Page had submitted a report to the Education Board advocating the use of bags of the haversack type. “Mr Page has himself established many corrective exercises,” Dr. Uttley added. “He has devised exercises for flat feet, curvature and bad posture, while he has also a special remedial system for the treatment of bad physical defects. The whole school has its exercise period every day and everything possible is done to ensure that the physical development of pupils receives the attention it deserves. I agree that special physical instructors are needed in the primary schools. We are fortunate that we have a man of Mr Page’s calibre in this school.”

A Press Association message from Wellington yesterday stated that instances of underweight and undergrown children who had passed from the primary schools into Wellington College this year and cases of defective physical development among boys were given by the headmaster (Mr W. A. Armour), to the Board of Governors of Wellington College. Mr Armour stated that as a result of an examination conducted by the teacher of physical training among new pupils it was found that there were many instances of underweight, undergrowth and malnutrition. In about 50 per cent, of the cases the general posture was defective. Taking obvious cases only, it was found that there were 17 cases of slight curvature, 24 cases of round shoulders, and 19 cases of flat feet. It was extraordinary to find no fewer than 32 cases of biting, the fingernails—a pernicious habit which might be attributed to some form of nervous derangement.