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104
(b) Primary Schools.
Efforts have been made during the past year to direct the attention
of teachers to the need for correcting and improving the
posture of children which had tended to deteriorate during
the war years. To do this it has been necessary to lay stress
on those parts of the physical training lesson which aim to improve
the strength and suppleness of the spine and to
emphasise the importance of correct performance in all formal
exercises.
Shortage of plimsolls, especially in the smaller sizes, continues
to detract from the general values of physical training in
primary schools but the position in regard to the supply of
games equipment has considerably improved.
It would greatly facilitate the further development of our work
in these schools if they could now be supplied with some of
the special types of climbing and hanging apparatus which
have recently been tested and adopted for use by a number
of education authorities.
(c) Modern Secondary Schools.
The main task of our specialist teachers of physical training
in our Modern Schools has been to continue the process of
recovering lost standards. While there is still much more
to be done before these standards can again be raised to their
pre-war level, the fact that teachers are fully alive to this
problem is a hopeful sign.
It must be stated quite emphatically, however, that until such
time as all our modern secondary schools can be provided
with well-equipped gymnasia, staffed by qualified experts, and
until every pupil can be provided with suitable clothing and
footwear for their physical training lessons, the true
potentialities of this branch of physical education will never
be achieved.
Organised Games.
(a) On Playing Fields.
Arrangements for weekly visits to the Education Committees
playing fields have been continued for all pupils over 11 years
of age, transport being provided for one school where the
distance would otherwise have made these visits impracticable.
Lack of suitable footwear has continued to restrict the
use of playing fields to dry periods and has consequently
proved a handicap to the development of such games as
football and hockey.
The general condition of the playing fields has been maintained
at its usual high level by an efficient and helpful ground stall.