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the individual pupil and of the fundamental principals
underlying schemes of work. These fundamental principles
must not be lost sight of in the widening programmes ahead.
The growing interest in Television was generally thought
to be disadvantageous to participation in practical activities
and conducive to an age of physical comfort and inactivity.
Instead however, it seems as though this medium can be
harnessed to form a splendid ally; the sports programme,
technical training series and competitions of varying physical
activities have provided additional interest in techniques and
generally stimulated effort to the right direction.
During the year 1955 physical education in the schools
in the Bexley area has been generally alive, interesting and
progressive and the standard of effort at all levels has been
fully maintained, despite considerable movement of teachers
to schools in other areas.
Gymnastics.
On the boys' side, gymnastics have remained the
primary means of physical education, but increased attention
has been given to some non-gymnastic activities popular in
the boys' post-school life. During the year under review,
indoor work in boys' schools has developed along two
distinct lines, and opportunities have been afforded to assess
the relative merits of each:—
(1) General Schemes in which individual lessons were
devoted to developmental work of a gymnastic
nature, together with a number of separate skills
from various sports and games.
(2) Blocked Schemes in which one particular facet of
physical education was allocated a number of consecutive
periods, the various branches of Physical
Education being given due attention throughout
the academic year.
In Boys' Secondary Schools " circuit training " has been
introduced as a means of developing strength and of providing
challenge to older boys. It is hoped that this method
of training will give a new incentive to the less skilful performer,
since it relates an individual's performance to his
physical ability.
Some experiments have been made in Secondary Schools
during 1955 to allow a certain amount of choice of activity to
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