PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 6

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

THE LATE MR. ROYD GARLICKY SUCCESSOR ■ GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS Speaking iu regard to the appointment of a successor to tlio late Mr. ltoyd Garlick, who held the position of Director of Physical Instruction in the State schools, the Hon. J. Allen stated to a Duuedin pressman:— "The idea is to combine tho medical inspection and physical instruction branches of our school system under one officer, who shall be a medical man as well as an expert in physical education. The difficulty is to obtain such a mail.'. We cabled to England to ask whether it was possible to obtain a man who could' take such a position, and were informed that it was quite impossible at present while the war was on. I have given close consideration to the medical inspection side of the work, and 1 realise that as it is situated now it is impossible with so small a staff to do tho work as it ought to be done. I also realise that it is going to be a difficult thing to get medical inspectors, especially men who are prepared to take up that branch of medical science only. Tho work must become, to a certain extent, rather ".nonotouous, and we are hardly paying salaries to induce medical men to leave a remunerative general practice to take up this special work. We may get women to do it, and women are exceptionally well suited for the work. 1 have discussed the whole question with experts, but no solution of the problem has yet been found.

"The statistical side of the medical inspection of the children attending the public schools tends to make the work of inspection monotonous, and it is difficult to get medical men who are willing to undertake it. Yet it is through the medium of statistics that information is gained tfhich shall lead to counteracting tho physical defects. Statistics" show how much has to be done by the medical branch, and how much by the physical instruction branch. Tho physical instruction branch is now part of our organised system, and good work has already been done. I have no hesitation in saying that in the future we shall cure a considerab'e percentage of the defects which were discovered from /statistical information collected bv tho physical instructors and medical inspectors. "Perhaps the most difficult question of all concerns the treatment of children who require surgical attention. All we can do at present is to inform parents of their children's needs, and leave the parents to decide as to treatment. Of course, the hospitals are available for those who are unable to pay for such treatment. .This part of the important work however, requires development. It needs careful working up, so I come to the original idea that the two branches should be co-ordinated under one head. We are deferring the appointment of a successor to the late Mr. Royd Garlick until we can get, it possible, an officer who shall be able to fill tho dual positio'i. If it be possible to combine the branches undeV one competent head- the delay will be -advantageous."