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42
The gymnasia in these new schools are light and airy, and have an area of 1,800 sq. ft. ; they
are equipped with a limited range of apparatus, the floors are specially constructed of non-splintering
hard wood, and they are designed in such a manner that they afford a measure of resilience.
The floor is perhaps the most important piece of apparatus, as so many exercises are taken in a
sitting or lying position, and for this reason cleanliness is a matter of major importance.
The design of the gymnasium and changing room is such that the children must enter the
changing room first where they change for their lesson before entering the gymnasium. This
arrangement does much to ensure the preservation and cleanliness of the gymnasium floor.
The purpose of reconditioning is to afford to a school, so far as the limitations of the building
permit, facilities which approximate to those which would be provided in a new school. So far
as physical education is concerned this treatment has, in the majority of cases, proved most
effective.
By September, 1938, the following position had been achieved:—
New central schools with gymnasium, showers, etc. 2
Re-conditioned central schools with hall-gymnasium, showers, etc. 5
*New senior schools with gymnasium, showers, etc. 7
Re-conditioned senior schools with hall-gymnasium, showers, etc. 9
Total 23
Introduction
of apparatus
work
*Two of these are without modern changing and showering rooms.
Physical education in junior schools has not benefited to the same extent by the building
and reconditioning programme.
Prior to the re-organisation of schools, physical training was based on the Board of Education
Syllabus of Physical Training, 1919. This syllabus was compiled on the basis that schools were
"through" schools, and that in any given class there would undoubtedly be a wide age range.
Re-organisation, however, led to a much closer grading and after a few years it became evident
that this publication did not make adequate provision for the older children in central and senior
schools, and a temporary pamphlet was issued to act as a guide for boys' work in central and
senior schools, while the girls in central schools received similar help.
In 1933 the Board of Education revised the syllabus, and in its new form it is intended to
act as a text-book for junior schools and for the first year's work in a central or senior school.
It was stated that separate publications would shortly be issued for senior boys and senior girls,
but at the time of compiling this report these books have not been published. The need for a
definite syllabus for the senior children was meanwhile growing urgent, and during the past year
the Council's organisers of physical education have themselves written the necessary books, and
these have been published by the Council
The decision to introduce this extended range of training has raised two major problems :—-
(i) The supply of apparatus. The Council has agreed to supply to each senior school,
and to each " through " school with a senior section, the following equipment: 6 gymnastic
benches, 4 stools, 1 vaulting box, 1 vaulting buck or horse, 1 beating board, 4 gymnastic
mats, 1 pair jumping stands and rope, 10 climbing ropes.
(ii) The training of the necessary number of teachers to conduct such work. With
this end in view the Council recently sanctioned the holding of a series of special six-week
half-time courses, the training at which was to be based on the new senior syllabuses.
The first course to be held was one in the late autumn of 1937 for young men teachers from
the unattached list. The first courses for permanent teachers were held in May, 1938; one in
the mornings for men, and one in the afternoons for women.
As a result of the training given in these courses the equipment in eleven central schools
has been brought up to scale, and 53 senior departments have been equipped with portable
apparatus.
The recruitment to these courses is giving rise to some anxiety. In some cases the only
suitable man or woman has now been trained, in others there is no member of the staff suitable
for training. The method which has been adopted in recruitment is for members of the organising
staff to visit the schools and discuss on the spot the possibility of teachers attending these classes.
So far 146 boys' schools have been visited, and of this total 21 departments have no teacher on
the staff able to take the training. In a similar manner 90 girls' schools have been visited and
35 have no teacher available for this specialised training.
It is apparent that, unless exceptional steps are taken, the introduction of work embracing
the use of portable apparatus cannot be ensured in many senior schools. There is a further issue
to be faced, namely that in certain departments there is only one teacher suitable for training in
this advanced work, and it is neither reasonable nor desirable for that teacher to shoulder the
entire responsibility for the physical training of his or her department.
In the main, the physical training in senior schools is confined to free standing exercises,
activities, games and the simpler agilities, and the general standard of efficiency in this range of
work is ouite good, and shows everv indication of becoming still better.
Junior and
unreorganifed
schools
While the main developments have centred round senior departments, attention has also
been paid to the work in junior and unreorganised schools. Steps have been taken to give the
teachers concerned a more intimate knowledge of the Board of Education 1933 Syllabus of
Physical Training, and the quality of the work has steadily improved.