EDUCATION: PHYSICAL DRILL.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1906 Session II, E-01e

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Session 11. 1906. NEW. ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: PHYSICAL DRILL.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CIECUI/AE TO SbORETAEIES OF EDUCATION BOAEDS AT AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON, NAPIER, Blenheim, Cheistchuech, and Inveecaegill. Education Department, Wellington, 29th August, 1906. I am directed by the Minister to call your attention to clause 3 of section 137 of " The Education Act, 1904," and to ask you to be good enough to furnish, as directed therein, a report of the manner in which the requirements in respect of instruction in military drill have been carried out in your district. E. 0. Gibbes, Secretary.

Education Board, Auckland, 6th September, 1906. In answer to your memorandum dated the 29th August, and in terms of clause 3 of section 137 of the Education Act, the Board reports that the teaching of physical drill receives satisfactory attention in the public schools of this district, and in many of the larger schools it is highly efficient. The Secretary for Education, Wellington. V. E. Bice, Secretary.

Education Office, Napier, 24th September, 1906. Herewith please find copy of the Inspector's report on the instruction given in military drill and calisthenics in the schools of Hawkes Bay. The Secretary for Education, Wellington. G. Crawshaw, Secretary.

Education Office, Napier, sth September, 1906. In all the larger schools, and in many of the smaller ones, military drill and calisthenics form a regular part of the ordinary school instruction. As shown in Lieut.-Colonel Loveday's report issued in May last, Hawke's Bay contains a larger number of cadet corps compared with its school population than any other district in the colony, there being on the 31st March last thirtytwo school corps, containing in all 1,734 officers and privates. Great enthusiasm is aroused by the annual assembling of pupils at Gisborne and Waipawa. Sports are held, and a shield and banner are given to the schools that acquit themselves best in drill and calisthenics. It is the opinion of the Inspector of Schools that much more would be accomplished were opportunities given to the lads to form camps at places like Taupo and Waikaremoana, where officers and privates could study contour-lines and places of strategic importance, whilst at the same time they would acquire a knowledge of topography, and benefit physically by the change. H. Hill, The Secretary, Education Board, Napier. Inspector of Schools.

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Education Board, Wellington, 18th September, 1906. Replying to your circular memo, of the 29th August, I regret that, owing to an oversight, no mention was made in the Board's last annual report of instruction in drill. The Inspectors report that instruction in military drill is making satisfactory progress in our large schools, and in the rest it forms a subject of instruction wherever circumstances permit. At the end of the year we had two battalions in the district, and a third has been formed since then. Throughout the district the subject of physical instruction receives due attention in most schools. In former years the Inspectors incorporated in their annual reports the main points in Colonel Loveday's report, but owing to the fact that that officer was last year prevented from inspecting the greater number of our cadet companies his report could not on this occasion be included. The Secretary for Education, Wellington. G. L. Stewart, Secretary.

Education Board, Blenheim, Bth September, 1906. In reply to the Department's memo, of the 29th August concerning drill, the Inspector reports as follows: "Of the thirteen schools returned last year as not presenting pupils in drill, nine had undertaken the work, two were closed, and in two the subject was still neglected. In six other schools, owing to broken time or to the fact that they were newly opened, defect was observed. The larger schools all acquit themselves well in drill, and some of them improved in the readiness and alacrity with which the various movements were executed. A battalion has been instituted, and three parades were held. A company has also been formed of detachments from Havelock, Canvastown, and Okaramio, in which district much enthusiasm has been displayed. This company has inadequate equipment for shooting, having only two miniature rifles." D. A. Stbachan, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. For Secretary.

Education Board, Christchurch, 3rd September, 1906. Eeplying to your letter of the 29th ultimo, I have to explain that in their report for the year 1905 the Board's Inspectors reported in regard to drill, copy of which report is attached. The Secretary for Education, Wellington. H. C. Lane, Secretary.

Extract from Inspectors' Annual Report for 1905. In practically all the schools of the district these subjects are receiving attention, and it is gratifying to find an increasing number of teachers who supplement the ordinary club, wand, and dumb-bell exercises with others in which at frequent and regular intervals practice in deep breathing is given. The cadet movement has now found permanent acceptance in this as in other districts, and we are glad to note that Colonel Loveday has recorded his satisfaction with the efficiency of the various corps. Between this efficiency and the discipline of the schools the connection is very intimate indeed. The huge attendance at the yearly display given in Lancaster Park by the Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association is an excellent indication of the interest taken by the public in this department of training. The general attractiveness of the items in the day's programme, the precision which marks every movement, and the effectiveness of the massed displays speak eloquently of the time and pains which members of the various teaching staffs (the ladies especially) have devoted to the preparation of their squads. The smoothness and punctuality apparent in the unbroken succession of events bear equally emphatic testimony to the forethought and organizing capacity of the officials concerned.

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