Appendix h\\

is.-'i

Dr. Gunn deals specially with tin- value to lie derived from the training of students in the genera] principles of the work in which they should be able to co-operate for the physical improvement of the children. The necessity for lectures on this subject being given to teachers and parents is also dwelt upon. Many valuable suggestions are made with regard to the lighting, healing, ventilation, and general structure of the schools. With regard to defective teeth, the doctor strongly recommends that the inspection for tins purpose should take place at an earlier age than the present— i.e., at the age of Standard II children. She urges that deterioration of children's teeth might be largely prevented if the dental inspection were made for children of six or seven years of age. An illustration is given of the practicability of serving cocoa at lunch-hour. At one large school from June to September children were provided with cocoa, milk, and sugar at the cost of 3d. a week. This covered the initial expenses, and next year the charge will be 2d. per week. This was highly appreciated by the parents, and resulted in the children bringing more suitable lunches instead of buying biscuits, also in improving the conditions under which children ate their lunches, since American cloth was provided to cover desks, and the children ate their lunches with greater comfort and under some supervision. The attendance in bad weather improved, ami working-conditions in Ibe afternoon were sensibly better. The report strongly urges that some arrangement should be made for the provision of means to deal at. a moderate cost with the cases reported by the school doctor. A special feature of the report is the description of the open-air schoolroom which forms part ol' the South Wellington School. This accommodates sixty-three children, and the records of (heir increase in weight and height as the result of the more healthy conditions and freer methods thus made possible show a distinct advantage as compared with those of the children of similar age taught in the ordinary rooms. The headmaster of this school reports that the children in the open-air school have become distinctly more bright and active, and have had a, comparative immunity from colds and chest complaints. Teachers and children distinctly prefer the open-air school. The above summary of these four valuable reports cannot do adequate justice to their contents, but they still serve to indicate a range of investigation covered by the Medical Inspectors and the zeal of these officers in carrying out their duties. Physical Instruction. The woiis of physical instruction, initiated by the late Mr. Royd Garlick has been continued throughout the year. Nearly all the teachers in New Zealand have now gone through a course of instruction in the methods and principles of the physical exercises through the agency of camps or special classes. Regularly throughout the year at various centres the instructors have conducted " refresher " classes in order to keep up efficiency, and to point out and remedy any defects in method noticed by the instructors during their visits to the schools. The students at (lie training colleges, in addition to an instruction course covering about two weeks, receive together with pupil-teachers and probationers regular instruction at intervals so far as the demands of the country districts on the instructors' time may permit. When conditions become more settled, more it is hoped will be done in the all-important work of training the young teacher. Corrective Classes. In order that some of tho children suffering from physical defects such as spinal curvature and stooped shoulders might receive remedial treatment, corrective classes have been established at a large number of schools under the supervision of a selected teacher. The instructors themselves during various holidays conducted large central corrective classes. These were well supported by the parents and much enjoyed by the children, who showed considerable improvement as a result of even the short course thus given. The Medical Inspectors co-operated in this work by selecting the children for the corrective classes and conferring with the physical instructors as to the type of exercises best suited to the varying needs of the children. This work is handicapped in a similar manner to that of medical inspection through the lack of sufficient instructors. The present instructors have dealt ably with their extensive duties, and have communicated to the teachers much of their own enthusiasm for the work of physical instruction. I have, &c, W. J. Anderson, Director of Education.

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