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Lavatory and Cloakroom Accommodation is provided at all
the schools. The washing basins are all on the intermittent-flow principle,
and the waste pipes in some cases discharge under the basins into a halfchannel
pipe (which facilitates the removal of blockage), and so over gully
outside. The hooks in the cloakrooms are in two or three tiers, and twelve
inches apart; so that if the clothing does not touch at the sides, yet they
overlap one another considerably. Fumigation, more or less often, of the
cloakrooms, has been suggested, but scrubbing at least once a week with hot
water and soap is the proper treatment.
Heating of the Schools is effected partly by a hot-water circulation, and
partly by Boyd's ventilating grates.
In October the headmaster of Croyland Road School reported that the
heating had not been satisfactory during the preceding winter.
Artificial Lighting is produced from an ordinary gas installation, but
by electricity at St. Edmund's.
Incandescent gas-light burners are used in all the provided schools except
Silver Street, and amongst the non-provided schools at St. James', National
and Lower Latymer.
Daylight Saving. At the beginning of December an interesting
suggestion was made, that the schools might be opened earlier on winter
afternoons, thereby affecting a saving in gas and coal. Of 34 head teachers,
24 were in favour of the change and 10 against. The reasons given on both
sides form a document of some interest, but no change was made.
Seating. The policy of gradually substituting new desks for the old
ones has been continued; many new dual desks have been supplied during
the year.
Ventilation is in no case maintained by a mechanical or "plenum"
system, but on the "natural" plan, which is cheaper and more effective. I
have never yet seen a school, or other public institution, where the "plenum"
system is a success from a hygienic point of view. It is certainly expensive to
establish, and a continuing heavy expense to maintain.
Fire. The fire appliances at all the schools are tested by drill, in the
presence of Mr. Croasdell, the Superintendent of our Fire Brigade. These
drills serve the useful purpose of showing up the defects that require remedy.