NEW PHYSICAL TRAINING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 783, 2 October 1929, Page 11

NEW PHYSICAL TRAINING

PARENTS’ PROTESTS

ANSWERED DEMONSTRATION GIVEN A demonstration of the new methods of physical instruction in schools, given this morning before the Auckland Education Board, was taken by the members as a reassuring reply to several complaints which have been made by parents. Hr. Champtaloun an officer of the Health Department, attended, and gave it as her view that the physical standard of New Zealand compared favourably with the standards in other countries. She praised the work already accomplished by the new method of physical training, and her opinions were shared by Mr. A. K. Rush, the instructor who gave the demonstration. “Some parents have been alarmed by the new system,” Mr. A. Burns, chairman of the board, explained in introducing the demonstrators to the meeting. The success of co-operation between the Departments of Health and Education, school controls and parents, was given by Hr. Champtaioup, who detailed the purposes of instruction. She pointed out the excellent results gained by the training in bringing about correct postures. Correct postures, the doctor said, had a beneficial effect on health, particularly in later life. Considerable attention had been paid to teaching of the uses of the foot. Uneasiness had been caused by a few points in the instruction, and several students at the Training College had been stated to have complained of pains and discomfort. Hr. Champtaioup believed this could be explained because the students had not been accustomed to the new exercises. Any case could be diagnosed by the school medical officer, and the doctor contended there was no cause for alarm. Mr. Rush demonstrated the series of corrective exercises employed, and showed members of the board the lun uses of the foot. He said the work was proceeding with excellent results in 12 of 14 schools he had visited, and the complaints had been few. He considered that a wonderful degree of improvement had been reached with the new exercises.

In reply to questions by members of the board, Hr. Champtaioup, discussing suitable games lor girls, said basketball was probably preferable to hockey.

Mr. Rush said the exercises were begun when a child was seven years