FITNESS FOR ALL

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 6

FITNESS FOR ALL

Conference Opened At Wellington

IMPROVED SYSTEM IN SCHOOLS

(United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 20. The physical culture conference opened today and was attended by the acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) and the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) associated with whom were the Director ot Education (Mr N. T. Lambourne) the Director-General of Health (Dr M. H. Watt) and the chief inspector of primary schools (Dr J. W. Mcllraith). The aim is to consider the best means ot raising the standard of physical fitness in the community. Mr Fraser described the conference as a very important one and thanked those present for accepting the invitation to attend. The view taken by the Government was that children shodld have the best and fullest kind of physical education and development but there should be avenues provided for them to enable them to continue with the care of their bodies. The work of the conference will be to consider what is desirable and practicable, how the system could be improved not only in the schools but right through the lives of the people. Leisure was like most other things in life—it could be an immensely beneficial thing if properly utilized and could be a tragically disastrous thing if not properly, utilized.

Care of Infant Life

Mr Fraser said a great deal had been done in New Zealand, more than in any other country in the world up to the present, in the care of infant life. The Plunket Society of New Zealand led the world in that particular respect. Unfortunately some of the good done in the early days of infancy had been undone in later years, mainly because of the lack of knowledge through the ignorance of those in charge of the children, such as ignorance as to food and as to the importance of sunshine, and through ignorance as to exercise for children, as well as a hundred and one other causes, which would disappear with the growth of knowledge, and the intelligent use of that knowledge. What the Government was anxious to get was general agreement as to the method of approach of the subject and a frank examination of what had been done in primary and secondary schools to date, and the deficiencies which were only too obvious, together wth suggestions and recommendations as to the institution of a system of physical education right through from the kindergarten stage to adult life. There was nothing to prevent the conference making recommendations on physical education right through the life of an adult. He suggested that they should survey the whole situation and give the Government the benefit of their knowledge and their wide experience. The importance of physical education as the means of laying a good foundation was stressed by Mr Parry. He said he thought it was important that the instruction should embrace a good knowledge of the make-up of the human being, that was lacking today, not only among children but among grown-up people in this country. Knowledge was also required of the right kind of food to consume, and food consisted not only of that which was put into one’s stomach. There was also another food—“ The fellowship, the psychological effect of proper associations.”

A Healthy Psychology

It was very necessary to create a good healthy psychology, Mr Parry said. He had held very strong opinions all his life about physical education. With a proper system of physical education he thought there was scarcely a human weakness that could not be overcome. He knew some medical men would disagree with him, but he had tested it personally. In his opinion boys and girls should be instructed as to their own inner organs, so that they acquired a knowledge of their . own make-up and physical construction. Although he was very enthusiastic as to the need for physical fitness, and believed it was the real foundation of the race, he realized it was necessary to have mental fitness as weil. He i contended, however, that the two could

be developed side by side. Dr Watt said he had access to reports from the school medical officers and these, and information from, many other sources, disclosed the existence of a tremendous amount of preventable disease in the community. At the same time he did not wish it to be thought the health of the community was deteriorating steadily. It was his belief that the standard of health of the people today was better than it had ever been, but, at the same time, there was room for a vast improvement.