MAKING YOUTH FIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 31 July 1929, Page 2

MAKING YOUTH FIT

PHYSICAL EDUCATION NEW SCHEME 2 ; 0« SCHOOLS DISPLACING OLD DRILL MENTAL ASPECT EMPHASISED Tliu your 1929 .should bo longrcmembered as a period of changes in the cducutiuiiul system of Now Zealand. Tlio latest reorganisation proposals coneorii tlie whole system of physical drill in the school, a movement being now on foot to displace the old physical "jerks" with what is known as ' jiny.ujal education." Briefly, (says the -"N.Z. Herald") the new .system is for the purpose of giving the children exercises calculated to fortify them against present-day exertions. It has been said the new system is an American one, but this is not so. Following years of study, Mr Renfrew White, orthopaedic surgeon, of Otagtr, formulated a system which was a combination of the most improved methods in practice abroad. The system has not been copied from any country, being essentially a New Zealand one. Mr White adopted physical education is a hobby, seeking some means of norrcuviug the large percentage of deformities which develop in the child during its later school life. lie worked on the basis that the present system of Swedish drill failed to give play .to muscles which were taxed severely by the man and the woman in the ordinary routine of lite.

Mr White brought his system under the notice of the Education Department two years ago. Ho was given full control of the Teachers' Training College and the schools at Dunedin for the development of his proposals. Since then physical training officers in the department's employ have received instruction from Mr White, special refresher courses being held at Dunedin. CLASSIFICATION OF EXERCISES Under the new system, training is classed under five headings, viz., body efficiency, organic development, body control, instructive activities and social training. The two latter headings in.volvo recreational training and games and dancing. A wide variety of subjects comes within the scope of the divisions. Attention is paid to the erect position of the body and its maintenance," the development of the ideal types of standing and walking, general activity and the structure and mechanical activity of the lower limbs. Such other matters as the physiology of the locomotor apparatus, deformities of the feet and their prevention, the structure and mechanical activity of the trunk, of the chest and breathing and the training of the body and co-ordination also receive attention. All these matters are dealt with in theory so that teachers may be able to carry out to the best advantage the exercises.which are being introduced in the new scheme. Trainees .commence with simple tables of movements and the fundamentals of muscle development and control. This leads to muscle control from the mental aspect. The development of perfect control of the body as a whole is portion of the posture principle which is noticeable throughout the exercises. Special attention is paid to exernew system is for the purpose of givand oi'ganis of movement. NEW IDEAS IN SYSTEM Many new ideas arc introduced by the system, and while some of the old exercises are deleted there are others introduced to take their place. The old, wellknown "trunk bending backward" drill has been eliminated as an exercise. The play of muscles which that brought about is obtained in the new "active standing" position which is used instead of the old "attention." The new standing position provides that every section of the muscular system shall be active. The position of the "lifted chest" will be observed always in this new stance. Incidentally, the new position provides that the feet shall be directly in line and touching,- instead of at the wellknown "angle of 45 degrees." Perfect technique and co-ordination of all movements is aimed at iji the ordinary walk forward. It is really a lesson in postural re-education. The foot goes forward with the toes clenched and pointing downward. The spine is erect, the chest held high and the abdomen flat. The obtaining of a wide arch for the feet is desired, and in order that close attention can hp paid' to the lower limbs tho drill is often carried out with bare feet.

DEFORMITIES OF FEET One of the reasons for the ready attention paid by the department to the new scheme was the realisation that a great amount of deformity existed among children in the schools throughout New Zealand. Closer medical inspection of children has shown that at the age of nine years only about 25 per cent, of the children have deformities of the feet, but at the age of 15 years the percentage has increased to 75. To remedy this, very definite attention is to be paid to the postural basis. Such points as the development of the chest and the erect position of the spine will be stressed. The exercises will be given to music as far as possible so that ultimately eurhythmies will enter into it. It is intended to introduce the new system to all schools next year. The exercises were commenced at the Auckland Training College about six weeks ago, while the system is also on trial in four schools in Auckland, at Mount Eden, Ellerslie, Papatoetoe and Man-■ gere. At the former school, a third-year' student trained by Mr White is giving instruction. The work at the schools is being carried out under the supervision of school medical officers. Accurate measurements of the children were taken at the beginning of the year, and these will be compared with measurements to be taken at the end of the year. Physical instructors stationed in Auckland are of opinion that the new system is a distinct improvement on the old. ; "limes are changing and with them the ordinary activities of life," said one instructor yesterday. "New muscles are now being brought into play and attention must be given to the development «t these. People are thinking more quickly and the new scheme, provides lor mental as well as mechanical trainnig. The training has been brought more closely ( 0 education, being really Physical education as apart from physical drill. r J