END OF COMPULSORY GAMES SEEN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 190, 8 May 1940, Page 8

END OF COMPULSORY GAMES SEEN

Physical Activity Should Be Enjoyed HEADMASTER SUGGESTS IMPROVEMENTS The opinion that compulsory games would come to an end, as knowledge, enlightenment and facilities to provide alternatives increased, was expressed by Mr. R. G. C. McNab, of John McGlashan College, Dunedin, in his presidential address at the conference of the association of the heads of the registered secondary schools of New Zealand in Wellington yesterday. “It is, say the experts, a fact that a boy playing or exercising against his will and instincts, is not only rebellious but inefficient, and likely to disturb his physical and mental disposition,” said Mr. McNab. “Actually, I have known, and not long ago, games coaches who armed themselves with sticks to encourage their pupils, or to beat out reluctance to tackle at football or slowness to play a correct stroke at cricket.

“Something of what I say may appear to encourage ‘softness.’ If that is so, I do not much mind, as I have little use for the advocates of the ‘keep them busy’ school, which allows little time for personal occupation, reduces the senses of responsibility and independence and leaves for adult life few spontaneous resources for useful and profitable leisure. The first requirement of any system of physical education is that it should be enjoyed. . . . Must Benefit All. “Secondly, physical education must benefit all. The fat and clumsy boy must not be left on one side, the timid boy left discouraged; the adept should be discouraged from glorying in his prowess. One of the worst disadvantages of old-fashioned gymnastics is that too much time is wasted standing in a queue, as one of the disadvantages of compulsory games is the dreadful boredom and inactivity of the duffer and the incompetent. “In seeking the benefit of all it should not be difficult to find some form or forms of activity in which each boy can take part with some success and enthusiasm. There are organized games, sports and gymnastics, and less formal activities like swimming, jumping, wrestling, walking, climbing, even dancing. “Dancing is, I understand, being more and more developed in girls' schools. In boys’ schools, dancing, except the ballroom kind, is still likely to be regarded with scorn, at best with tolerant amusement, but it requires energy, self-control, grace, and co-ord-ination of mind and body. “In this connexion it may not be inappropriate to lament the very slight connexion between music and gymnastics. Where the Greeks found pleasure and profit in the partnership between music and many kinds of physical activity, it is surprising that we, with facilities of all kinds, seldom use the two together. Modern gymnasium practice in England and European countries is using music more, just as it is using less the old rigid gymnastic procedure. Competitive Spirit. “It is realized that gymnasia, indoors and out of doors, may provide good physical training, supply as well some satisfaction for natural, primitive, and instinctive movements such as climbing, crawling, rolling, tumbling, and for adaptation of games. “In this phase’ of the subject —enjoyment for all —it will be observed that with a greater variety of physical activities, the ordinary competitive element is mufih reduced, and there is less insistence upon prizes, championships, displays, but the best kind of competitive spirit remains, that in which the individual sets his own standard and tries to improve it. He is like the mountaineer trying to better his own performance.”