PHYSICAL DRILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1585, 31 October 1912, Page 8

PHYSICAL DRILL.

FOR ALU PRIMARY SCHOOLS. MILITARY EXERCISES OPTIONAL. Legislative machinery to give effect to tho Government's scheme for the physical training of children at primary schools is contained in the Education Amendment Bill introduced in tho House of Representatives last evening. Tho Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Education Committee. Tho Bill provides that physical training is to bo compulsory for all boys and girls in attendance at primary schools. A director of physical training and inspectors and teachers are to be appointed by the Governor. They will bo under the control of the Minister for Education. Authority is provided for tho director and the inspectors of physical training to visit all public schools for the purpose of inspecting and assisting the physical training given in them, and of reporting upon it. A copy of each report will be sent to the Board of Education concerned. Provisions are also made for the inspection of physical training in private schools at winch tho pupils are over five and under fourteen years of ago. In tho annual report on the progress and condition of education in New Zealand, tho Minister is to report upon the efficiency of the physical training given ia tho publio schools. ■ -

Military training in public schools is no longer to be compulsory, but there is a clause in tho Bill that in any public school where tliero is a qualified instructor, provision may bo made in accordance with regulations for the instruction in military drill of boys between the ages of twelve and fourteen years. Tho drill will be subject to inspection by an officer appointed by the Commandant of the Defence Forces.

_ By another clause in tho Bill authority is given to any medical inspector of schools at all reasonable times to enter into or upon any public school building and examino the children attending tho school, and notify tho parents or guardians of any such child of any disease or bodily defect lrom which in his opinion the child may bo suffering.