PHYSICAL FITNESS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20726, 9 February 1939, Page 7

PHYSICAL FITNESS

QUESTION OF UNIFORMITY AMERICAN COMMITTEE’S WORK 1 A report of the curriculum research committee of the College Physical Education Association raises a question which should interest many New Zeaianders. “The need for a more uniform pro--•ramme nf physical education throughout the schools of America has been evident to all progressive thinkers for many years,” it is stated. "Probably everyone interested in physical education has at some time fdt that a basic uniform programme should be evolved. Always, however, the question has arisen: ‘is it practicable to formulate a programme that will be adaptable to widely varying | geographic and climatic conditions, j local needs and interests, varying facilities, and the widely differing viewpoints of teachers, administrators and school boards.’ A second queston has also been inevitable: ‘Would the various States and communities accept such a programme if it could be formulated?’ “The curriculum research committee during its 10 years of operation • has been working definitely toward j the. time when consideration could be j given to the possible adoption of a J uniform programme. The objective | has been to formulate a comprehensive. graded programme which would assure a common ground of basic skills and knowledge, with sufficient flexibility to he adaptable to the ordinary situation regardless of climatic conditions. “To this end the committee has J sought continuously to secure the cooperative participation of large numbers of representative leaders from all J parts of the United States. It has i the hope that when completed I the curriculum would be acceptable I to every State and district because it would be a composite programme, participated in by their own representatives and adaptable to their peculiar needs and conditions. “The constituent, curriculum elements or activities have been evaluated with regard to relative worth in terms of physical, intellectual, social, safety j and recreational contribution; they ! have been allocated to appropriate j grade levels to correspond to the peak l of natural interest further supplej mentod by studies of child interests at. different ages: they have been allotted j appropriate amounts of time in the ! programme according to their seeming I value and difficultv of learning; they 1 have hern analwsed into basic elements ■ or essential performance techniques ; on elementary and advanced levels, ! with suggested sequence and estimated j tinn> needed for the learning process I in each case for the average student., j “So far as content elements are j concerned, this gives a body of material formulated in terms of the IM-st available judgment of outstanding experts throughout 111 c United States, which should serw as an acceptable uniform programme provided it can be made adaptable to varying conditions iin widely separated sections of the I country.”