TO ELIMINATE THE C3's
IT must be no small gratification to Sir George -I- Newman, lately retired from the post of Chief Medical Officer of the Board of Education, to see the principles for which he has laboured for half a life- time accepted and applied by the Government and warmly supported by voluntary organizations out- side. Mr. Ramsbotham, in his survey of the work of the department last Monday, gave special attention to nursery schools, to the feeding of school-children, and to physical training during the school period and after ; and on the same day it was announced that the King and Queen had given their patronage to the Central Council of Recreative Physical Training just formed under the presidency of Lord Astor, with the co-operation of the Board of Education. At last the many forces which have been exerted separately to abolish the defect of physical unfitness are converging, and a concentrated effort is to be made to apply them at all stages in the lives of chil- dren and adolescents.
The process of enlightenment has been gradual but steady, and is today bearing fruit. The object of the elementary schools fifty years ago was simply to impart knowledge with, perhaps, a modicum of religion. Today the acknowledged aim is, as Mr. Ramsbotham said, to form character, intelligence and taste, and it has been realized that these cannot be developed except on the foundations of a good physique. Before the War it was discovered that under-nourished children could not be taught ; therefore they had to be fed. During the War it was found that an alarming proportion of the Nation was C3 ; training for military service by feeding and physical exercises in many cases began too late. Whilst on the one hand military advisers in all countries are concerned to promote the physical fitness of future recruits, on the other hand those who are concerned about the discontents of the unemployed and the need of strengthening the morale of persons suffering from enforced idleness rightly recognize that part at least of the remedy is to keep the young strong, physically active, and capable of responding to new calls upon their energies.
The aim which' is now consciously set before us is not that of producing a nation of soldiers, • nor yet a nation of athletes, but young men and women fully developed physically, so that the body presents 'the least possible obstacle to zest in work or pleasure in sport. It now becomes the accepted responsibility of society, through the State and through -voluntary organizations, to make provision
for the physical soundness of the whole community of growing children and young persons. The process should begin with the education of parents and the care of children in infancy, and with the provision of nursery schools. It should be continued in the elementary schools, where the health of children is under constant supervision by medical officers. The Board of Education has laid down that whenever there are symptoms of subnormal nutrition a child should be placed on the feeding list. Since November, 1931, the number of children receiving free meals has doubled, and five times as many are receiving free milk. The provision of school canteens in certain areas has enabled children who live far front home to secure adequate mid-day meals at a small cost.
The next stage is to provide physical training and recreation. Training conducted on scientific lines is necessary if physical defects are to be corrected and healthy bodily development promoted. For this purpose two things are needed—adequate facilities and apparatus, and competent teachers, both in elementary schools and secondary schools. Many school buildings are far below the standard that the Board recognizes as adequate, and lack separate
halls for physical exercises. Mr. Ramsbothant admitted that only about 100 out of 316 local education authorities have organizers of physical training, whose function it is to advise teachers in the schools and help those who are working for voluntary organizations outside. Such expert assist- ance is necessary in all districts if proper use is to be made of the time that is or should be devoted to exercises.
But the need does not end in the schools. It is recognized that physical training and recreation must play an important part in Juvenile Instruction
Centres. Also, boys and girls in industry no less than those in secondary schools need facilities for con- tinuing their physical education; and young persons,
employed or unemployed, over the age of eighteen. The Prince of Wales's Appeal for the King's Jubilee Trust Fund has aroused a new interest in all parts
of the country in the work of voluntary Organizations, and more money has been made available to help them. They will need suitable accommodation and equipment, and they will need trained leaders ; and the available resources ought to be applied
systematically. It is for this purpose that the Central Council of ,Recreative Physical Training has been formed. Its first task will be to make a complete survey of existing facilities, and make them available to those who need them.
All this activity which is being organized- and released implies system, but not regimentation, not drilling, of the community. It leads to the pleasurable and healthy activity of games ; but games are not enough ; specific effort is required for the perfect functioning of the body whether it is engaged in play or work. In the last resort it is the individual who is induced to apply, pressure to himself so that he may get the utmost possible out of himself. Physical training is only a part of educa- tion. But it is essential to it. Therefore, it is right that the Board of Education should determine to improve the standard in the schools and insist on a high minimum of efficiency.
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