PHYSCICAL TRAINING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 107, 29 September 1914, Page 6

PHYSCICAL TRAINING

| TEACJlit'lio Jujt.t..-"..-K/llitAiL. (jix'-ii. l .-■ Ttic teaxihera under Uiw iarun— . iwtucation Board aestfjuixwl a.l Wj Uood Templar diait vestanlay uiwrniiut; iiio ihrst step in emtemvg upoui, a course of instruction in physical culture under the supervision 01 Air. lioja laarnelt, Director of Physical Education, and his stall. Jplr TriuMe, chairman of Uu; jikjunja,fcot» 'lioard,- pretMhai, ami in oyauy tho proceedings, oxjux.-SB»al h.u great pleasure at befog present, aoUig fciKit lie hoped the teatihms would the classes with equal pleasure, it', lie tyid, physical exercises wouid not do away with all diseases, they would at least do some good. The fault in the present educational system wag Uiiat to uuumh attention was paid to examination* at the expense of otlittr important matters. If tho teachers failed in Uiei; ■moral teaching failed altogo'Jlif-r, for it was more essential that children should be made good citizens than that I they should achieve distinction m examinations. He hoped they wou.d all have a ip'ieasan/t tim«, and 'Uliat he would- be permitted to see them at their txer- { cises.

ilia Worship the Mayor (Mr <7. E. Wi'.ton), in the course of a brief welcome to the teachers, »aid that he had very great pleasure in being present, he had 1 always belie.ved tlvtb insufficient attention had in the paet been devoted to physical instruction. On belief of the <poeple of New Plymouth, he very heartily and cordially welcomed the teachers, amd hoped that, apart from the benefit they would receive flora the classes, 'tflio'r stay in the town would be enjoyable. ■Mr Royd) Garlick, who was wc'l rcc&ivcd, prefaced 'his- ranarka by a quotation from Emexson to the cfloet that the world existed for ifche education of each inan. Ho pointed out the far-rrjich'mg effect of influence, a remarkable illustration of which was afforded in the preiient war which was directly due to the influence of one man. That was a striking proof of the necessity for cultivating individuality and efficiency. Knowledge waa of little good without the physical ability to make US9 of it. The foundation of the brain was physical efficiency, therefore the first aim in the education of children should be to foster and develop that foundation bo as to enable the child to obtain the full benefit of education, and that was the object of the physical course of training. He urged all the teachers to practice daily the hygienic habits that would be explained by the instructors, for without those it was impossible to carry out the physical training scheme so as to obtain the end in view— a sound mind in a Bound body. They did not aim at creating muscular freaks, but at all round development of the body. Many children were pushed beyond their natural mental capacity simply because, in their own homes their physical development was neglected. It was, he asserted, the physically efficient that made their mark in the world and not those who floored honors at examinations and then collapsed. In conclusion, ho hoped the teachers would enjoy and profit by the course. (Applause.) After announcing the arrangements for the various squads, Mr Garlic!: dismissed the teachers to enter on their work. The first seniors of the women teachers (the mistresses) will be in charge of Miss Blackburn; the second seniors are allotted to Miss Heritage; the first juniors to Miss Greenwood; and the first assistants to Mr Longivortli. The two mens' squads will he in tkarfte of Messrs Koydhouse and Johnson. Mr Koyd O.'arliek will supervise. All tile squads commenced their instruction yesterday afternoon, breathing exercises being the first lesson. THE MIi.VS CAMP. The men's camp at the racecourse has been pitched 011 a most convenient site, adjoining the entrance to the Recreation Grounds. It has quite a military appearance, and unless the weather proves very boisterous, the teachers should be comfortable in their tents. JmlmediateSy adjacent is a long room belonging to the Jockey Club, which makes a convenient place for the exercises to he taught and practiced in, so that the classes are being held under very favorable eiremustances.