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98
At one school, the Physical Training mistress has arranged
exercises for children found to be suffering from postural and foot
defects, and it is no small tribute to her enthusiasm and to the
keenness of her pupils, that the results have been outstandingly
successful.
It is pleasing to be able to record that both parents and schools
have continued to give their support to this voluntary scheme, and
my thanks are due to the school authorities and staff concerned
for their generous assistance in providing facilities for the examinations.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
1. General.
The year 1956 has been one of expansion rather than of
exploration and experiment, with the result that physical education
in the schools of the borough has made steady if unspectacular
progress. The quality of work has been maintained and some
schools have produced work of an exceptionally high standard.
More teachers are using their greater freedom to good advantage
and more have acquired a clear understanding of the ideas and
ideals behind the changed routine.
Primary Schools.
In some primary schools there is still need to examine the
value of some of the activities in the " daily " lesson performed
with small apparatus. Too often such apparatus tends to hinder
rather than to help movement and prevents children from obtaining
the desired effects or a full range of movement. Progression
in the work and standard of performance depend to a great extent
on the new material and ideas introduced to the class by the
individual teacher. A more complete assessment of the varying
abilities and aptitudes within the class, as well as of the influence
of growth and development, are necessary if teachers are to give
their children every oppoitunity to reach their full physical capacity.
Secondary Schools for Boys.
"Blocked" schemes of work in Secondary Schools for Boys
were mentioned in our last report and observations made during
the year under review suggest that concentration on one particular
aspect of physical education (e.g. basketball) for a number of
consecutive periods during the academic year may have serious
drawbacks among the younger classes. Boys in the age group
11-13 years are at a formative age physically, and may need
developmental gymnastic work of wider scope than can be obtained
under the "block" system when half a term or more of gymnastic
work may be missed.