PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2119, 9 April 1914, Page 11

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

hutt camp- ■a:.:,;,,. of rm scebme f ti\iaEoa."3as. Alien (Minister of Edn--caliou), accompanied by Mr. 1". Royd -Gartick (Director of Physical Education), paid a visit yesterday to the 'camp at Hutt Park, where ninety Wellington district school-teachers are just completing a course of instruction under the Physical Education Department. Interviewed yesterday afternoon., the Minister said that he had seen the teachers go through their work, and every man, old ftnd young, -so far as he could judge, was enthusiastic. Sonic of tho teachers had gone int<? with doubts as to the vajuo of the training, but he did not think that one of them now retained any doubt in his mind at all. "I was highly pleased with the whole of the work," the Minister stated emphatically, "and highly pleased with the evident enthusiasm with which the teachers are taking it up. lam very glad to know that they realise its objects, and are sympathetic in working it out to th<! very best advantage. It was an extremely pleasant meeting, and I came away feeling very satisfied." To-day the Minister is to visit tho instructional class for women teachers, which-is being conducted, in tho city. Addressing the teachers at Hutt Pari? yesterday, the. Minister thanked them for tho way in which they had taken up the. work. The idea, he- said, was not Rlono to produce a better physical condition in hop and gtfls. Be looked to this training to have' an important influence in building up fine, character. Bo considered that the assemblage </f teachers in this-way would be of value both, to them and to the instructors.; Before leaving, Sir. Alien mode a, thorough inspection of tlie.eMatj and its appointments, and declared liimself well-pleased with all that ho saw. "So far as tils physical- education scheme is concerned," Mr, Alton remarked to ft reporter, "there is no experimental stage about it now. It lias KOiM past that, and is absolutely established. Its- benefits arc tioginn.rag to Shmv already, and I expect man? fiiofo benefits to appear in future," The instructional staff, the Minister stated in reply to a-'question, wa.s far too small, and tho problem of providing a larger staff would have- to bo faced before- long- He added tliatlje was waiting for a report on the Subject. In soma districts tho work of training, teauhws has not yet been conimencodt, and, in addition, tho training of teachers at tho permanent training colleges has.-to be provided for, „»»],_ where teachers have been framed, it is nec-os* s.ary to arrange For regular rounds of inspection by the instructors of tho De- : rJart-Htwit, so that the standards of work may' bo maintained and improved upon, instead of going back. 'Refreshercourses for the present staff of tun instructors are- also necessary, but cannot -be arranged at- present. - Before long the Department wilt he called upon to provide,special training in the oou'rse <rf children suffering from delects wliieh can to removed or I'oniedietl by physical education. ; t There- was no doubt, the- Minister stated with conviction, that a trepieU(feus field existed for useful work, and the work would necessarily go on developing step by step on systematic lines, until the field had been fully occupied. About the- vnluo and utility of tho work thero could bo no question.