PHYSICAL CULTURE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1954, 10 January 1914, Page 4

PHYSICAL CULTURE.

In a letter which we publish in another column, "Citizen makes an earnest plea for greater facilities for physical culture in our State schools. Ho points out that at present only 20 minutes daily is allowed for this important branch of education, and he is certainly not unreasonable when he suggests that at least one hour each day should bo devoted to it. As we pointed out in Thursday's issue, in commenting on the address in which the Principal of the Auckland Training College (Mh. Milkes) contended that physical culture should bo the first consideration in our schools, a good beginning Ims already been made in this matter, but it is useless to c'xpect very much in tho way of results under existing restricted conditions. More time must bo found for the development of the bodies of the. children on scientific lines, and this means that less time would he available for other subjects. Mb. Minxes was.quite justified in laying stress on ■ the.-, necessity, for : turning out but his address would" have been more helpful if he had shown hov: the syllabus could .be;;rcarranged -.to the best advantage •with'th.-' object of giving moro time .toKphysical culture. It would he in?i:< i restiugKtptkn('ijv.,preCiEely what les£s<ihs;;ea t>'|£in*bis .„opinion, either be !cur||,ile(SSi;orii;;;dropped\ altoKcthnr.. jThis\faspecti^l4ilio^qucb1 1 on .will have'

to lie resolutely'fared .by our. e 'l UC!i "• (i on a 1 i nut hoi i t ios / if• a ny... im p royym>>nt. in. t lie p rose nt| st ale fo fa ft air S, is 1o Isi;'brough! -nbont. -.- Iris 's:Ui. ; ;- f a c.t.o'ryf tov Jc ri 11 qf.i| physical p:deveibpmon(|j;isl!ieii^ is now: getting;' into thorough working order./? If , thc :: health' of.' the; children is imprqved .thcir.vcapncity.'fos' mental work will ba. ii)cr< •a so <1, J hll ti a higher*, standard sof education" will be made', possible.The demand for more time, for physical culture should rewire'the!'sympathetic attention of the J :Education Department, and a way-will 1 no doubt be. found for extending the time <Jerotocl_ to this essential phase of school life without linclulyV interfering with the-, other branches of instruction. 4 '~ ■