THE NEW LEARNING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1966, 24 January 1914, Page 6

THE NEW LEARNING.

, FOR TEACHERS.

PHYSICAL CAMP AT DAY'S BAY

At the teachers' physical training camp at Day's Bay during the past week tho usual order of events nas been changed. The instructors have taken tho place of tho instructed —and they are proving remarkably quick at learning. The'camp is under the supervision of the Physical Education Department. As is well-known, the Government has dc.no away with the system of cadet instruction in tho schools, whereby boys alone received physical instruction, and has adopted a much more elaborate, and, as has been proved in other countries, much more effective system of instruction. Scicntific exercises are/to be given, along the lines of Swedish drill, and it is hoped that, through tho schools, tho pupils will acquire a knowledge and appreciation of phvsical perfection, which will eventually tell-oh tho lvholo population of Now Zealand. Instructors have been appointed, under tho control of Mr. Royd Garlick. and they have already, given instruction to tho teachers m Hawko's Bay, Auckland, _ and other provinces. Now it is Wellington's turn, and forty .teachers have voluntarily given up ten days of ' their holiday leave to attend the camp. Instead of finding the task irksome, they seem to hare discovered that they have entered upon one of tho best of holidays. One lias only to look at them —bronzeskinned and active as they are—to realise that. Hovelling In the Sun. From 7 a.m. till 5 p.m. each day the! teachers are in tho open air exorcising, in one way or another. Ihey have discarded the stiff collar, and have becomo simply campers, revelling ill the sun, and evidently determined 011 cultivating a, healthy tail hue. Mr. S. Moore, Government instructor 111 cliargo of the Auckland district, is controlling tho camp. Speaking to a reporter yesterday, he stated_ that- the men had entered into tho spirit of the thing. There was none of the attitude, of the schoolboy 1 {iliout the teachers, and, consequently, ono did not tear a repeated order, or a remark of "Why don't-yon do this?" Instead,, its "No. '2 take the squad for a moment, and No. 2 "doubles" out from his place and' briskly puts the class through whatever exercise happens to bo going on. In some respects this camp djifers from ono recently held in Auckland, where the malo and female teachers were billeted at hotels', and wore enabled to £0 to,town as soon as tlie day s exercises were over. At Day's Bay tho, teachers are under canvas, and, while the day lasts, have not a moment to spare. But at night the time hangs a little on their hands, and impromptu concerts have frequently to be held to break the monotony. Breaking-lip night promises to see them aJI gather for a real merry time. The Sea Dip and the Day's Work. The day starts early, and not with breakfast. At 7 o'clock all line out and. do some mild exercises before they taste tho joys of a preliminary shiver in- the tea. At. first, to those unaccustomed to the morning sea dip, it seemed closo 011 the verge of heroism to leave a warm bed and plungo in. Familiarity with tho proceeding, however, has worked its changes, and now all gladly take part, and endeavour to do tho 100^ yards to tho bost of their several abilities. And some of tho teachers could give the smartest boy in the school yards and a beating in tno water. At 8 o'clock, with appetites sharpened bv tho morning air and exertion, they make an attack upon tho faro coming from the cook's tent. And the cook realises his importance, so there has been no discontent in tho camp. Serious work is entered upon at 9.30, and proceeds till 12.15. p.m., when a breast is made for dinner ahd'_ rest. Two o'clock sees them all hard at it onco more, and it is .so interesting to the men that it seems 110 timo till 5 o'clock approaches, and with that hour relaxation and release from further duties till the following day. Instruction In Theory. Theoretical instruction naturally finds a place with tho physical instruction, and short talks take place on physiological and anatomical subjects, while I hygiene is not lost sight of. Tho instruction given is hound to have an effect for good on many subjects in the school curriculum, and the teachers recognise this. Theso classes are being held to relieve the bjg compulsory ctvmp3 which come off during Easter, and the teachers attending now will not be expected to put in an appcarance then.