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The following is a copy of this Report:—
"ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ORGANISERS OF PHYSICAL TRAINING, 1937.
To the Chairman and Members,
Harking Education Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have pleasure in submitting the following report on Physical Education in
Barking schools during 1937.
In 1930 the development of sound physical education in the schools received
tremendous stimulus by the declaration of official policy in the Board of Education
circulars 1445 and 1450, and in 1937 emphasis on the necessity for physical fitness
has been transferred to those of post school age. The publication in February of
a White Paper on Physical Training and Recreation, the subsequent passing of the
Physical Training and Recreation Act, and the establishment of the National
Fitness Council, assisted by twenty-two area committees, together with the intense
publicity accorded the Government scheme, have already done much to awaken
the national conscience to the urgent need for improving and extending the facilities
for physical training and recreation for persons over school age. The development
of sound, healthy physical recreation as part of the social life of the nation will not
necessarily follow the mere provision of adequate facilities. The choice of leisure
activity will largely depend upon the kind of education people have received and
we should therefore ensure that physical education in our schools is laying a sound
foundation of appreciation of good physique and of practice in joyous physical
activity. In spite of the fact that the national scheme for physical fitness contains no
element of compulsion and no insistence upon the efficiency of any system of
physical exercises, its unfortunate announcement coincident with the Government's
rearmament programme has aroused deep and understandable suspicion in the
minds of many people and has done much to hinder the progress of a thoroughly
commendable piece of social service. It is hoped that the physical training and
dancing display given on the Vicarage Field as part of the town's Coronation
Celebrations proved to an interested audience that modern physical education in
the schools has little in common with early semi-military systems of drill. The
importance attached to individual training should convince anyone that there is
no military aspect behind modern pedagogical physical training. Education is
the guidance of growth which must take place not only physically and mentally,
but spiritually as well, and we are convinced that the self respect engendered by
the healthy functioning of a fit body is a vital factor in sound character formation.