PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3907, 1 September 1875, Page 2

PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

To the Editor.

Sir, Being the father of a family, and anxious to have the faculties —both mental and physical—of my children properly trained and fully developed, I have therefore watched with great interest the efforts made by our legislators during the last thirteen years to p. ovide means for educating the rising generation ; and although g eat credit is due to our Provincial authorities for their zeal in that direction, yet, in my humble opinion, they have only been half-doing their work. I allude, of coarse, to the hick in out 1 educational arrangements of facilities for the physical training of the young. I have no doubt some of your readers will be ready to exclaim that we have already done much more than could have been « in so short a period of our existence as a Colony; I quite agree with them, but think it is high time that what physiolo-

gilts, pgjroholoflats, and, in tat, all sdaMtsd mea ore a reed upon— vis.: to attain the most active healthy operation of the mental, » proper development of the physical faculties is necessary—should be attended, to. It is true we have got what is called a gymnasium ; but what a caricature of institutions of that name attached to most educational establishments in Great Britain or the Continent of Europe ; besides, it is only for the High School, where it is impossible that onetenth of the school children of Dunedin could be trained, not to mention the hundreds of youths that cannot avail themselves of it. I have also watched with considerable interest the report of proceedings at our Educacatioa Board Meetings, but failed to discover any recommendation made or suggestion offered with reference to the physical training of our youths, 1 haveoften visited the gymnasium, and witnessed with admiration the care and dexterity of our worthy Professor, Mr Long ; but what, I would ask, can be accomplished in such a building ; or, rather, in one building of fuch dimensions t Why not have a gymnasium to each Government school, and a proper place where the vouth of both sexes can be taught swimming—an art so necessary in a country like New Ze daud ? By the use of your valuable pen in the cause, you will forward the object in writing of, yours, &c., Paterfamilias. Dunedin, August 31.