XN000022-1976-11-12 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1976

HEALTH EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS STRESSED

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID TODAY THAT HEALTH EDUCATION WAS A TOPIC WHICH DESERVED GREAT EMPHASIS IN SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG.

SPEAKING IN CANTONESE AT THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF FOUR SCHOOLS - THREE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SECONDARIES AND ONE SUBSIDISED PRIMARY - ORGANISED BY THE CHAN'S EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATION, MR. TOPLEY SPOKE ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF A FULL, HEALTHY LIFE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A HEALTHY MIND,

HE SAID THE ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF PHYSICAL HEALTH WERE: NOURISHMENT OF THE BODY AND TRAINING THROUGHOUT LIFE, PROTECTION OF THE BODY AGAINST HARMFUL AGENCIES AND THE IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF ANY DEFICIENCY OR DISEASE IN THE BODY AS SOON AS IT WAS DETECTED.

THE DIRECTOR SAID IT WAS THE TASK OF THE SCHOOL TEACHER TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND KNOWLEDGE SO THAT PUPILS COULD FULFIL THESE REQUIREMENTS.

+HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT THE HEALTH OF THE MIND IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT, AND UNLESS IT IS SOUND THE WHOLE BODY WILL BE AFFECTED.

+THUS PHYSICAL FITNESS SHOULD BE ADVOCATED BY THE TEACHER AS A MEANS TO PROMOTE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND CHARACTER OF THE CHILD, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT MENTAL FITNESS WOULD MAKE CHILDREN MORE USEFUL PERSONS IN THE WORLD, BETTER ABLE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE, AND EQUIPPED TO UNDERTAKE WORK SUITED TO THEM.

MR. TOPLEY NOTED THAT THE GROUP OF FOUR SCHOOLS RUN BY THE CHAN'S EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATION HAD DEVELOPED STEADILY.

+ THE COMBINED ENROLMENT NOW STANDS AT OVER 12,000 SURELY AN IMPRESSIVE FIGURE AND IT IS INTERESTING TO OBSERVE THAT ON THIS OCCASION OVER 1,000 PUPILS ARE PRESENT TO RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATES,+ HE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR ALSO NOTED THAT THE FOUR SCHOOLS GAVE ATTENTION TO CHARACTER FORMATION AND THE PROMOTION OF A LARGE VARIETY OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

+1 FULLY AGREE THAT THESE ARE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE SCHOOL AND THAT THEY DESERVE DUE WEIGHT IF THE CHILDREN ARE TO RECEIVE AN ALL-ROUND EDUCATION, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

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