SPECIAL COLLEGE?

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 401, 7 April 1937, Page 6

SPECIAL COLLEGE?

PHYSICAL WELFARE. Training of Teachers. Press Association —Copyright. Dunedin, April 7. The establishment of a national college in associate n with the Medical School in Dun&Tin for the training of school iteacaers in physical education is being urged by Dr C. E. Hercus, Dean of the Medical Faculty. Physical education was not a sport such as cricket or football, which did not give whalt was a med at —a well developed and balanced body—said Dr Hercus in an address. Foremost Vi'as the development of character, both 'mental and moral. Physical training was probably the bi-ggeslt defect in the schools of New Zealand at the present time and there wqs no specialisation or special attention directed to this important aspect of education. Children might be able to repeait the rules of health, but might not carry them out, and teachers must learn to teach children and adolescents the importance of physical education. At the present time they were not doing so. Children had been given more .time for leisure, and teachers should be able to step into the breach and guide their charges. “I think the deficiency is in the training of the teachers, and this can only be remedied by the establishment of a school of physical education in Otago. Of course the school must be in Otago, although some people may sneer that. The Medical School is in Dunedin, and .as physical education is a biolo-gical problem medical aid and directipn must be in the picture. What k' wanted is an alert and agile person, quick of action and not one of the heavy muscled wrestling type, and there are a host of either points necessary for medical direction. Therefore the school should be in Dunedin, where teachers could be trained in this special branch thalt is so necessary.”