PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1946, Page 10

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

-Press Association

SCHOOL ATTACHED- TO OTAGD * /•' ' UNIVEESlTY *

Bv~ Telearavh ■*-

/ " - - crAafARU, ©Ch. • 39:- • - , '"/Interviewed today, -the Aiinister of "Health, Hon. A;-H, Nordmeyer,. .said that Cabinet 'ha'd approv'ed 'the' establishment of a- SclidoJ, of . Physiyal. .Education at. the.Univprsity.oC .QtagO. The Consultative Coiuinitt.ee , on . :Post-. Primary Education ip. 1-9,42. and" the pon- - ferenee on Education hehl by tlie'-Uin-ister of Edueation., at Clmatchurch in 3944, botli recoininQiicled flie settiiig up of a university course in physical. education. T]ie, , propos.nl hqd. also been strongly su.pported. by the ' Physical Education Society of New Zealand. j . The estg.blishinen-t of tliis university course, Mr. NOrdnieyer said, ' followed tlie precedent of other eountiies both within and outside tlie British' Colnmonwealth and was the outconie of ' tlie vigorous policy 'of physical education' and recreation iiursued by tlie Government since .1937. In 1937 the Physical Welt'are Act was passed aiid a physical welfare brancli of the Internal Aft'airs Departmeiit was established. In 1939 the Education Departmeiit appqinted a Superintendent of Physical Education and a new sclrenie 'of physical -educa- ■ tion for school s, which liad since been developed with consideratie success, was introdueed. Tliis forward movement iu physical education had created the demand for a 'course ' of " training' adequate enouglr to provide trained specialiSts ithat are nee.ded. . "'The School of Physical Education will ofl'er a three vears' course leading to a diploma of Ihe University of Otago," the Minister said.- "It is lioped to provide thorough training for workers in the field of physical education in schools, college, s and in the ('omniunity. The course will include facilities for research as well as vocational training and teclmical preparation for school specialists, eommunity recreational organisers and those who will do th.e corrective work. The establishment of the school as- an integral part of the University of Otago should ensure that a sound scientific basis is given to the training. It is hoped that a start will be made in 1947."