View report page

50
SCHOOL BATHS.
The last report urged the need of school baths for cleansing purposes. Quite apart from
instruction in swimming, shower baths were suggested as likely to be the most economical so far as
the quantities of heat, water and space were required.
The use of baths as part of a general training in physical education has been strenuously
advocated by Miss Margaret McMillan, and Mr. Fels generously offered to put £5,000 at the disposal
of the Council to establish a centre in which these ideas and methods of education could be carried
into effect. Although practical difficulties arose which prevented the full scheme being adopted, an
alternative one has been suggested. Meanwhile, the question of school cleansing baths has been
thoroughly considered, and its importance made evident.
A recent report* has been made to the Council on visits made by the medical officer( Education)
and the Assistant Educational Adviser to over 30 schools in various parts of Germany and Holland.
Shower baths are now being installed in new schools there, and have been added to most old
ones, so that wherever there is a permanent water supply, even in small places of 4,000 or 5,000 inhabitants,
school shower baths are found. The arrangements vary from a simple rose douche over a zinc
tub in dark concreted cellars, to light and airy marble-lined bathrooms. The usual accommodation
is for about 30 children at a time, and they are douched for 10 to 15 minutes with water, the temperature
of which beginning at 95 deg. or 100 deg. F., is gradually lowered to about 65 deg. F. Soap,
with towels, and loin cloths are generally provided, and laundry apparatus for quick drying is also
installed.
The general arrangements of a school bath with shallow troughs in the floor and water tubes
to supply the shower, is shown in the sketch:—
An arrangement for accurately regulating the temperature of the douches is fixed on the wall of the
bathroom, and at one end of the room some separate cells, each with a rose douche overhead, are
provided for the use of older children, particularly the girls. This general trough and separate cell
arrangement appears to be the best from all points of view.