PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 4

PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

TRAINING TEACHERS. Tester day witnessed an important fow ward step in the development of the Bchemo ot physical, education in schools, which was initiated during tho last'session of Parliament by file' Hon. Jos. Allen (Minister for Education). So far most of the activities of the Director of Physical Eduoation (Mr. T. Koyd Garliok) havo been of an organising and preparatory character, but yesterday, assisted by a small staff of instructors, ho commenced tho training of some 150 teach, ers, who have beon assembled by tho Hawko's Bay Education Board. Tho teaohers are being taught to impart physical education, on soicntiflo limes, to tho children in thoir schools, and boforo long the system will be in full and definite operation. Speaking to a reporter on tho subject last evening, tho lion. Jas. Allen stated that definite arrangements had been mado also- with' 1 tho Auckland■ and Southland boards, aad that the great bulk of tho teachers in these education districts and in Hawko's Bay would bo instructed upon tho lines of tho new system before next December.' In tho Auckland district about 0(0 teaohers arc to como up for training. The instruction of teachers in otlier districts will follow in duo course as rapidly as tho necessary arrangements can be made.

The three boards named have elected to take advantage of the winter schools, at which teachers asscmblo annually for ft period of two weeks. Mr. Royd Garlick will be assisted m the work of training teachers by 6ix male instructors and four ladies. The Minister oonsidors that it will bo unnecessary to add to this staff for some littlo time. He remarked, further, that there had been a good deal of organising work to carry out. The time of the director had boon occupied in training inBttuctors, preparing books, and a syllobus, and in mnking arrangements with the rarious boards. A fire:it deal of work had to bo done in establishing the echcmo. The big task lying ahead was that ol training the teachers, but one? this had boon accomplished smooth progress might bs expected. Afterwards tho duties of the director and his assistants would bo to inspeot ■ tho various schools, and see tot the work of instructing the ohildron was being carried out on proper lines. Possibly tho teachers might bo put through occasional "refresher" courses to keep them thoroughly in toucli with tho system. New teachers, after tlie scheme had been established, would receive their preliminary .{"raining in tho training colleges. Those boards which had manifested the greatest readiness to mnko tlio necessary arrangements would have their teachers trained first, but before lon# tho bonefits of tho system would extend to the whole of tho schools in tho Dominion,