NZ children going backwards when it comes to swimming

05 Dec 2008 08:24p.m.

Jenni wrote:

As a swimming teacher and swim school owner I think it is really sad that money is not spent on school pools to allow them to use the pools to keep children safe. Surely it is worth it for the government to keep these running and then lease them out to swim teachers to provide lessons for the community. Local council run pools are so full that getting pool space to teach in is near to impossible. So much so that I have my swim school run from home.
Maybe if all the local teachers got together and could provide even two hours a week each to the schools with pools, children could learn to swim. I come from South Africa originally and was quite shocked at the lack of swimming ability of children in general.
I also think that educating parents of children at school and pre school, would help them to see the importance of giving children the life saving skill of swimming. Swimming should not be an option it should be compulsory.

03 Dec 2008 08:25a.m.

Angela Koelling wrote:

So, if it is difficult for schools and parents to have their kids learn how to swim, and the community is considered partially responsible for doing something about it - how? What can I do (while waiting for the government to catch up)?

02 Dec 2008 02:10p.m.

June wrote:

The number able to swim decreased as soon as all the restrictions on the school pools were imposed. These were too complicated for schools to conform with them so the pools were closed. I learned to swim in a school pool. It was part of our Physical Education program during the summer. Everyone in my class was able to swim at least 25 metres.