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53
been limited to irregular physical training lessons taken under
the most adverse conditions of unsuitable clothing and footwear,
lack of equipment, and, in many cases, under teachers unfamiliar
with the work..
In spite of all these difficulties, however, the general standard
of physical training in our schools at the end of local hostilities
was far higher than might have been expected, and since
April, 1945, with the return of more normal conditions for school
work and attendance, considerable progress has been made
towards this subject's recovery.
In this our first post-war report it may be considered fitting
that we should restate some of the aims of Physical Education,
the wider appreciation of which did so much to enhance the
subject's development in our schools during the latter years
preceding the war. Recently summarised by our professional
colleagues these aims may be stated as follows:—
(a) To secure and maintain high standards of bodily health,
physique and vigour;
(b) to develop qualities of character, high social ideals and
the team spirit, e.g., hardihood, courage, perseverance,
fair play and friendliness ;
(c) to foster an appreciation of the joy of physical fitness ;
(d) to cultivate quick and accurate co-ordination of thought
and action ;
(e) to develop easy, graceful bodily movement and poise;
(f) to develop general motor skill and specialised recreational
and occupational skills ;
(g) to help to correct bodily distortions, due either to heredity
or environment;
(h) to provide opportunities for self-expression and self-
testing ;
(i) to ncourage the pursuit of wholesome leisure-time
activities.
The extent to which these aims may be realised varies in
every school according to the training and qualifications of its
teaching staff and the facilities available for the development
Physical education in its several branches : Physical Training,
Gymnastics, Swimming, Games, Dancing, etc. In both of these
essentials there is scope for considerable improvement in all our
schools.