PHYSICAL TRAINING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5114, 13 April 1927, Page 2

PHYSICAL TRAINING.

VISIT OF DIRECTOR.

PRAISE FOR PAEROA SCHOOL.

A visit was paid by MT H. E. Longworth, director of physical training, Education Department, AVellington, to the Paeroa District High School yesterday.

In an interview Mr Longworth expressed himself as being particularly pleased and impressed with the way in which all classes had carried out the physical training lessons during his inspection.

In referring tp the teachers Mr Longworth said that he desired to compliment them on the efficient work which they were doing. The headmaster (Mr G. H. Taylor) was to be congratulated on the lead and encouragement he had given the teachers in the important subject. After inspecting hundreds of schools and seeing thousands of children, the director said that Paeroa compared ■more than favourably. It was explained that the Professor of Orthopedics at the Medical School. Otago, had been indulging in research work respecting curvature, of the spine in children, and had proved that when curves became over-developed illhealth resulted. The teachers at the Paeroa school were certainly helping .materially to prevent such a state of things happening with regard to the children under their tuition- Parents could feel assured, therefore, that the Paeroa teachers were doing something tangible to prevent the.ir pupils from falling into disease in later life. Physical training, if properly carried out, was one of the most important means of preventive medicine, and he hoped the good work here would continue. Physical fitness meant efficiency, and it had been truly stated the the efficient individual meant an efficient nation. AVe in New Zealand, the director concluded, could look forward to being relatively one of the most efficient nations in the world.