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It will be seen that the weights of the comparatively invalid or convalescent children in open-air
schools and playground classes are frequently below those of the other children, but the main point
to notice is that the rates of increase of growth in the playground children are, as a rule, below those
of the children in the ordinary schools. Thus, if the largest group in the above table (the girls age 11
last birthday) be examined in more detail, say at intervals of four weeks, it is found that while the
playground class shows a steady increase in weight throughout the whole 28 weeks, representing a gain
per cent, in weight of 4.74, the girls in the ordinary schools show a steady but rather larger increase
amounting on the whole period of 28 weeks to 6 per cent.
A similar effect is noticeable at other age groups, so that it appears that the children selected
for playground classes are so delicate, and the effect of the open-air schools is so marked, that more
efforts directed towards nutrition are required for them than for the children in the ordinary school
classes.
Kensal
House
School.
The school has been under the regular supervision of Dr. R. S. Walker, who is also the medical
officer of the Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary, from which the children are drawn. The number
of children on the roll on 1st January was 108, and on 31st December 104—the average for the year
was 106. There was a marked variation in the average attendance from month to month, the lowest
being 78, in September, and the highest, 93 in May. During the year, 27 children left school. Of these
3 went to sanatoria, 7 returned to ordinary elementary schools, 3 were excused further attendance after
attaining the age of 14 years, 9 left the district, and 5 were excluded by the school medical officer on
medical grounds.
Remedial Exercises Classes in Elementary Schools.
Since 1912 a relatively small number of remedial exercises classes has existed in the Council's
schools. In 1913, they numbered 28, but since that time the number has unfortunately diminished.
At the beginning of 1916, there were 16 of these classes, but five have been discontinued
during the year; this falling-of? is no doubt to be explained by heavy calls which have been made upon
the time of the teaching staff. The classes that are left, however, have attained a high degree of efficiency.
Special mention in this connection must be made of the classes in the North-Eastern medical division
where the divisional medical officer (Dr. Lewis), in conjunction with the Council's inspector of physical
exercises (Miss Kingston) has devoted a great amount of time and attention to their care.
In the North-Eastern division, three classes for girls have been held continuously during the year
at Chequer-street (Finsbury, E.), Moreland-street (Finsbury, E.), and Hungerford-road (Islington,
W.), and one for boys at Winchester-street (Finsbury). During the autumn term a fourth class
for girls was started, at the request of the head teacher, at Canonbury Road (Islington, E.). The classes
are composed of children who are found to be suffering from postural curvature, deficient expansion
of the chest or muscular defects of a nature not serious enough to require orthopaedic treatment at a
hospital, but yet requiring regular skilled exercises. A special deformity card is made out by the school
doctor for each child. The height, weight, degree of curvature, if present, and the chest expansion are
noted, and this examination is repeated each term. The children are carefully selected, and no case
included in which the condition is-judged to be too bad for school treatment. Cases with heart lesions or
severe amentia are excluded and careful attention is paid to the nutritional state. The age of the children
is limited to ten and upwards. Extra nourishment is required by those attending the classes and
arrangements are made with the parents for milk to be provided at the school when the exercises are
being carried out. The class is always taken by a teacher specially selected by an inspector of physical
exercises and the table of exercises is carefully graduated in severity and progression. The number
in each class is strictly limited to 20. The results of the medical examinations show that 75 per cent,
of the children were greatly improved after a period of stay in the classes varying from 3 months to 2
years. Reports have been received from the school doctors in regard to four other classes of the same
nature in other divisions.
At Johanna-street (Lambeth, N.) a class for boys is held under the direct supervision of the head
master; 27 selected boys have 2 hours and 40 minutes drill every week, and Dr. Edis reports that the
results are excellent.
A class for 24 girls was conducted at Camden-street (St. Pancras, E.). Dr. Norman points out
that social conditions here militated very greatly against success. Many of the children do an amount
of housework quite unsuitable and harmful such as scrubbing floors, carrying pails of water and taking
the baby (aged 2 or 3 years) out in their arms. Deformities of the foot are very prevalent in this
class, in many cases threatening permanent crippling. Short and improperly shaped boots seem to
be the cause of these conditions in growing children. In spite of these drawbacks Dr. Norman reports
that the special exercises have resulted in considerable improvement in many of the children.
At Cook's-ground (Chelsea), the selected children were chosen from girls of 7 or 8 years of age,
and the class is carried on in connection with the Chelsea Polytechnic Training School. Dr. Arnell
reports that medical examination at the end of the year showed that a large proportion of the children
had greatly benefited, in many instances the defects for which they had been selected having been
completely eradicated.
These remedial classes, although diminished in number, have attracted much attention lately.
It is clear that many teachers in the schools, when aided by skilled advice and supervision, are able with
success to conduct classes for those children who are in need of special physical training on account
of incipient deformity, and an extension in due course of the facilities of the sort already provided would
be of great assistance to the Council's schemes of medical inspection, care and medical treatment of
children.
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