PHYSICAL TRAINING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 276, 22 November 1943, Page 3

PHYSICAL TRAINING

CHECKING THE SLIP COMMANDER “GENE” TUNNEY’S VIEWS - (P.A.) Wellington, Nov. 15. History showed thM civilisation flourished or declined according to the amount of attention they paid to physical education, said Commander J. J. Tunney in an address to Wellington school teachers this morning as an introduction to a refresher course in physical education during the next three days. Physical education and athletics, he said, developed among other things sportsmanship and courage, which were definite spiritual qualities, and Anglo-Saxon peoples above all had these qualities —they knew how to lose as well as how to win. He was inclined to think that in this respect in recent years we had been on the down grade. The war, however, had rectified this slipping and we were now on the up grade again. Indicative of this slipping was the fact that 53 per cent, of the first United States drafts were rejected as physically unfit, which was a disgrace. America had produced numerous athletes who had broken many world records, but they had been breeding stars, and for every star who shone there were a thousand just content to watch. However, they were out to rectify that, with a comprehensive programme which would make everyone physically fit. With this programme the medical profession could and should be of great assistance.

Experts for the Navy. Referring to his own work, that of officer in charge ci the physical educatin in the United States Navy, Commander Tunney said that when he started on the job he did not collect a bunch of star athletes as the nucleus of his organisation. Instead, he collected those who had been scientifically trained in physical education or medicine, and there were now 7000 fully-trained instructors, many with university degrees, some with as many as three degrees, including medical qualifications. When they started there were 300,000 men in the navy, now there were 3,000,000, and everyone of these men had physical instruction at the hands of an expert. “The army slept while we were doing all this,” added Commander Tunney, “and when they woke up they discovered we had all the instructors.”

This refresher course in physical education is being attended by some 350 Wellington teachers, who met this morning in the Tivoli Theatre for preliminary addresses before adjourning to the Kelburn Normal School for the instructional part of the course. They and Commander Tunney, who needed no introduction as former heavyweight boxing champion of the world, and who was warmly applauded, were welcomed by Mr. L. J. McDonald on behalf of the Wellington Education Board. He remarked that it would not have been fair to the teachers to have held the course in holiday time, and that the benefits accruing from it would more than Compensate for the three school days which would be lost.

The Director of Education, Dr. C. E. Beeby, said that it was a wise action on the part of the Education Board to arrange the course. There were now 70 full-time instructors engaged, and the new physical education was taking on well with teachers and children. He would not be happy, he added, until every school had its hall or gymnasium where the games could be carried on regardless of the weather, but in the present circumstances such desirable additions had to wait.

An interesting film was screened for the benefit of the teachers, showing the remarkable way in. which ball games have been developed in the schools of England. Teachers in the Hutt Valley are having a similar refresher course with the Eastern Hutt School as the centre. The children in the Wellington and Hutt Valley areas are meantime enjoying a three days’ holiday while their teacKers work, except that a few classes will be required to attend for demonstration purposes. Meeting Cliampions.

Boxing and other sports officials as well as a number of New Zealand champions were given an opportunity, with members of the Legislature and representatives of the services and the city of Wellington, of meeting personally Commander Tunney at a reception tendered him at Parliament House. The gathering was later photographed with Commander Tunney on the steps of Parliament House, and another photograph was taken of him and New Zealanders who have won championship honours. The Hon. W. E. Parry, who presided, said he felt that Commander Tunney’s visit would give an impetus to the development in New Zealand of the movement of physical education for the benefit of individual national well-being.

Commander Tunney, responding, said that in his opinion boding was the noblest of sports. Wherever he went in his official capacity ns Director of the Physical Trainmg Programme in the United Stares Navy, the first thing he looked for was a boxing ring. If there were not then the atmosphere in the*camp was not masculine. When there was an omission of that kind he quickly ordered the erection of a boxing ring and punching bag. Commander Tunney paid special tributes to the New Zealanders Bob Fitzsimmons and Tom Heeney.