View report page

11
REPORT OX PHYSICAL TRAINING SUBMITTED BY
THE PHYSICAL TRAINING ORGANISERS.
During the year 1940 the war affected physical education in
general very adversely, and we regret to report that few progressive
steps were made in this important branch of school work.
In the Spring Term many of the schools in the Borough were
reopened, and in the comparative quiet at that time it was felt
that school life would soon return to normal routine. Head
Teachers were seriously concerned about the physical well-being
of the children after a long winter of comparative inactivity, but
were handicapped by staffing difficulties, due to men being called
to the Armed Forces and to the requirements for teaching staff
in the reception areas.
The time was inopportune for conducting Training Courses
of an intensive character, but, in order to give some assistance
to those teachers now responsible for Physical Training, modified
Courses were arranged in Swimming, Physical Training and
Games, in which the greater part of the instruction was given
by means of demonstrations with classes of children. The second
large-scale evacuation of school children took place in June and
as a result the Swimming Course was the only one completed.
Thirty-four men and women teachers attended the Courses.
It will be readily understood that there was very little attendance
at the Playing Fields and Swimming Baths during the
year, as it was unwise to send children away from their schools
at a time when it was necessary to spend so much time in the
air raid shelters.
Several visits were paid to schools in the reception areas,
and in each case the normal teaching of physical subjects was
being creditably undertaken under difficult conditions.
Only two evening classes in Recreative Physical Training
were arranged in the Borough, and both were formed as a result
of demand by the members concerned. The attendance at both
classes was satisfactory.