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10
Medical Inspection of Secondary Schools and Training Colleges.—
The secondary schools and training colleges have now come under observation, but the experience
gained in the elementary school only carries one a small way. An entirely new set of conditions arise.
The pupils must be handled in a different way. The problems of overwork, nerve strain and exhaustion,
comparatively unimportant in the older children of the elementary school, now assume great importance,
and will have to be carefully studied. Education in the methods of learning and types of
knowledge, rather than in masses of facts, is the most important work of these students, and although
the crowded curriculum cannot be further discussed now, it is probable that one of the first general
subjects undertaken will have to be the study of time-tables.
It is important that in this new work plenty of time should be allowed for the acquirement of
sound knowledge, and at present all that is being attempted is to carefully examine each pupil, noting
the result in a case book, which will continue the whole school hfe as known to the doctor.
The girls will have all routine inspection and examinations done by women doctors, unless
these deem further consultation desirable. Matters of importance to educational hygiene will be noted,
especially important functional matters, headaches, sleeplessness, mental fag, and so on.
It is proposed in addition to institute a regular consultation hour, when any pupils with trouble
or worry about their work may put down their names to see the doctor and have their minds relieved by
suitable general advice, or where the teachers may consult with the doctor as to facts noticed or educational
treatment to be followed with particular pupils.
This service, worked in a commonsense way, will tend neither to self-consciousness nor hysteria, but
will be the means of developing a knowledge of personal hygiene among the pupils, cause them to know
when it is advisable to seek further medical treatment, frequently at an early stage of chronic troubles,
probably prevent some illness, help to avoid the formation of bad habits, and perhaps save much futile
and weary study.
Already the examinations of the junior scholars show the usefulness of such work in that onethird
are referred to medical or dental advisers. In examining the candidates for admission to the
training colleges the need of a carefully-drawn standard of physical requirements is very evident.
INFANT SCHOOLS.
The scheme for the physical exercises in the infants' departments appears to be in an unsatisfactory
position at present. Chiefly through the action of Government Inspectors, any drills or free
standing exercises have been almost suppressed in some East End districts. This is very ill-advised,
and a scheme of simple exercises to be recommended should now be issued. A definite position should
be taken up on this matter, as under the careful superintendence exercised in the Council schools the
infants are more likely to suffer from want of exercises than from their being overdone.
The requirement of sewing as a subject in infants' schools has been maintained against all opposition
for many years. The matter was taken up by the Council and after taking the opinions of
teachers and superintendents it was decided that in future:
There shall be no needle drill in infants' schools.
There shall be no sewing of any kind below Standard I.
Knitting shall be taught at the option of the Headmistress in the senior infants' class, i.e., between
six and seven years of age, but knitting shall not be compulsory in any infants' department.
A letter was to be written asking permission from the Board of Education to allow sewing to be
omitted in the case of children between six and seven, but meanwhile the Code of the Board of Education
was issued permitting this. With the removal of sewing there vanishes from the infant department
the most objectionable of the mechanical and straining work done there. There is yet, however, much
room for the development of spontaneity, particularly in the use of drawing and in the development
of letter memories before formal writing lessons are attempted.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS.
Measurements.—Some reference has been made to this subject in previous reports, and a
scheme was proposed to obtain some idea, capable of statistical treatment, of the child's environment
and its relation to educational progress.
Curves derived from the measurements of about 3,500 children were given in the last report,
and the importance of considering " out of school conditions " was shown by a study of the boys
attending the Chaucer school.
Some measurements were taken during the past year in connection with the school dinners
scheme. All the children in several schools were examined, and also in neighbouring schools as controls,
and for contrast children in some schools more remotely situated. The measurements taken represented
about 20,000 children, and as some of the weighing machines in use were for English standards,
two series of measurements were obtained. The results of last year's work give a third series. The
comparisons of these three series are interesting as showing the variations in different groups of schools
and also for comparison with groups of measurements taken elsewhere.
In the present figures only children between the ages of seven and fourteen inclusive at the last
birth day are taken.
Group A (English measures originally), chiefly poorer class schools—Ackmar-road, Beaufort
House, Glenister-road, Old Woolwich-road, and Columbia-road—includes 3,038 boys and 3,084 girls.
Group B, 1906 (measurements taken on metric system), in the Acland, Burghley-road, Gipsyroad,
Bellenden-road, Dulwich^ Hamlet, Bell-street, Buckingham-street, Rosendale-road, Honeywell-