§ Mr. JOELasked the President of the Board of Education what is the present number of elementary school teachers who are properly qualified to supervise physical exercises for the children under their control; what is the total number of physical instruction organisers employed by education authorities; and 1072W whether, in view of the decision to extend the physical training movement in schools, any steps are to be taken to engage persons who have graduated in private physical training colleges in this country and who are at present not employed in any physical training capacity?
Mr. STANLEYMost elementary school teachers, both men and women, receive some personal and professional training in physical exercises in the normal teachers' training colleges, and an increasing number of colleges are providing special facilities for this purpose. In addition large numbers of "refresher" courses are held every year for existing teachers and are widely attended.
The total number of organiser's employed by local education authorities is 205 (men 97, women 108). Physical exercises in public elementary schools are taken by members of the ordinary teaching staffs of the schools, and it is not the practice to employ in such schools teachers who do not also possess general teaching qualifications. But with the increasing demand for facilities for physical training, a demand which is in no way confined to elementary schools, I should anticipate that suitably qualified teachers should experience no difficulty in finding employment.