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as a rule limit the work to the junior forms of the school. This gradually changing
attitude may be traced to two main causes:—
(i) The introduction of a vastly improved scheme of physical training, wider in
its scope and much freer in its nature.
(ii) The introduction of a different type of teacher—the graduate who has a
dual qualification.
It must be remembered, however, that the majority of schools already had
specialist teachers for this subject—teachers who had given years of loyal service,
and who, in many cases, were doing able work. The problem of recent years has,
therefore, been to strengthen the technical qualifications of the existing staff,—and
as opportunity permitted—to make appointments of graduate teachers to fill any
vacancies which arose.
Organisation.—One reason why the physical training of boys is not so good as
that of their sisters is due to the fact that some of the headmasters do not make
sufficient provision for this subject in the time-table. Whilst the junior forms
receive two, and, in some cases three, lessons a week, the seniors do not as a rule
have more than one period, and, in a few cases, none at all. An improvement,
however, is noticeable, and more time is devoted to the subject than was
formerly the case. There is, however, still ample room for improvement in this
direction.
(b) Girls.—Physical training has steadily fought its way until it has become
established as an integral part of secondary school life. As regards staffing, these
schools can usually draw upon a wide field of expert women teachers who have been
through a three-year course at a physical training college. As well as teaching
gymnastics, swimming, dancing and organising and coaching the games, these
teachers are responsible, when their time-tables allow, for the treatment of minor
defects noted during medical inspection. They should be, and generally are, in
attendance during the doctors' visits, and frequently do all the clerical work in
connection with these. The task of seeing that the standard of clothing is kept up
to the mark is generally placed in the hands of the physical training teacher. In
a previous report it was submitted that in large schools where only one gymnastic
mistress was employed, physical education had not been allocated a fair proportion
of the total staffing. In the maintained schools the position has improved, three
schools now having two specialists full-time; and five schools, one full-time and one
part-time. There are still several schools in which it is hoped that it will prove
possible to make some addition in this direction to the staff. As far as the work
is concerned, the expansion of team and group work and the more general use of the
rhythmic method of performing certain exercises have been the main features of
development in the past years. In some schools, the work reaches a high standard,
and the bearing of the girls is good ; in others, much yet remains to be done.
Gymnastic
apparatus.
A short time ago the gymnastic apparatus makers were supplying inferior
goods—apparatus made from inferior timber and of indifferent workmanship. This
position became so acute that the Council refused to accept the equipment installed
in two of its gymnasia. The question of drawing up definite specifications, the
production of working drawings and the sealing of specimen samples has had to be
faced. This has presented a task of some magnitude but the matter is now settled,
and it is of interest to record that the Board of Education is using the Council's
drawings and specifications as the basis of a pamphlet which is shortly to be circulated
on the equipping of a gymnasium.
Health
classes.
Health classes are established under medical guidance m certain schools to include
selected groups of children whose physical condition needs special consideration.
The classes formed in this way are analogous to the nutrition classes which have
been so popular in the United States of America, upon which Dr. Winifred Holloway,
one of the Council's assistant medical officers, has recently written a report.
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