PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1939, Page 7

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

NEED FOR PERFECT HARMONY. MISS MEREDITH-JONES SPEAKS AT ROTARY CLUB. Physical education is a term which needs to be understood, as it has a very much wider meaning than most people imagine, stated Miss MeredithJones when speaking at the Masterton Rotary Club’s luncheon yesterday. Miss Meredith-Jones dealt in detail with many aspects of physical education. and observed that perfect harmony was the greatest need of mind and body. The routine syllabus for children over 15 years of age should be amended to one which devolved on grace and poise rather than the I‘ough and tumble of gymnastic exercises. Dealing with her experiences at Oxford, Miss Meredith-Jones stated that the Keep Fit Campaign she advocated concentrated on ease and perfection obtained by rhythmic dancing, etc. When, with reluctance, the rhythmic dances were followed by gymnastic exercises, there was a marked dwindling of. enthusiasm. Unfortunately the movement was more popular with women, there being a lethargy existing among the men folk, who did not seem to appreciate the classes after a day’s work. The well-equipped play areas and schools were favourably commented upon by Miss Meredith-Jones, who contrasted the conditions existing in England and those prevailing here. A hearty vote of thanks was moved by Rotarian E. ,M. Hodder, and carried by acclamation. Mr Hodder observed that a point which was lacking in Miss MeredithJones’s talk, really a most importantone, was the matter of discipline. The totalitarian States had realised and exploited this aspect, and the democracies would have to realise that this important aspect could not be overlooked.