Physical Instruction for the Young.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 112, 8 November 1895, Page 2

Physical Instruction for the Young.

■ ♦ • Yesterday morning and afternoon Mr J. J. de Mey d'Alkemade, superviser of physical education in the Wanganui district, exercised a number of the children attending the Feilding State School in physical exercises. Feilding having been made a centre for such instruction, twenty-four teachers from various country schools in this district were present. The idea of instructing teachers and scholars in this direction is a very laudable one, as material assistance is rendered in building up a robust frame, and the supervisor rightly points out the necessity for parents to see that the dress of their children is not tight. Mr de Mey strongly disapproves of the custom of wearing leather belts, and advises that garters should be substituted by elastic suspenders, which could easily be done by means of elastic with a hole in it being fixed on to a button on the stocking, the other end being fixed to the dress higher up. Tbe attention of parents should be directed to this matter, especially with respect to girls, as girls are much more requiring attention than boys, they being the weaker of the two sexes. Mr de Mey also points out that it is not advisable for little children to be allowed to carry a heavier weight than their strength will allow — for instance, being permitted to carry babies which are too heavy for their strength would result in curvature of the spine. If such a thing as nursing a baby was tolerated, it would be advisable for them to do so in a sitting position, changing the position from the right to the left. We understand Mr De Mey will make monthly visits to Feilding and other centres of instruction.