Citation

Moran K. N. Zeal. J. Educ. Stud. 2001; 36(1): 57-69.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, New Zealand Council for Educational Research)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The teaching of aquatic activities has traditionally held a prominent position in the curriculum of New Zealand schools. In particular, the teaching of swimming and water safety skills has long been valued as a community good, especially when viewed against a background of high rates of death by drowning that has characterized post World War II New Zealand. Evidence is presented to show that the political perception of swimming and water safety as a community good, coupled with the vision and energy of individual educators, enabled the development of primary school learners' pools throughout post war New Zealand. This paper also examines the significant role played by the community in their construction and the contribution of the State in facilitating pool development. In addition, less celebratory evidence is presented which suggests that the provision of these much-vaunted facilities was less than equitable.