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or report; so that the classification might require to be modified in accordance with later everts. The
numbers and classification of the children of school attending age (either in institutions or on the register)
are as follows:—
Boys. Girls. Total.
Children lor whom places are already provided 46 26 72
Already certified fit for a residential school—
(а) Awaiting admission 48 38 86
(b) Parents declined residential school
(1) In school attendance 5 4 9
(2) Not in attendance 8 5 13
Not statutorily examined with a view to fitness for a residential
school—
(а) Of elementary school standard
(1) In attendance 261 249 510
(2) Not in attendance 85 96 181
(b) Mentally defective—
(1) In attendance at Special school 61 51 112
(2) Not in attendance 12 10 22
(3) Under observation as to fitness for Special school
at age of 7 years 5 6 11
(4) Imbecile or idiot 39 28 67
(c) Physically defective—
(1) Attending a Special school 8 9 17
(2) Not in attendance 8 4 12
(d) Blind—
(1) Attending a Special school — 1 1
(2) Not in attendance — 1 1
(e) Deaf—
(1) Attending a Special school — 1 1
(2) Not in attendance 1 1 2
Extra-county address 1 1 2
Under care of other authorities 6 2 8
594 533 1,127
It is probable that by now a number of children registered as awaiting a vacancy at a residential
school may have been admitted thereto. It is also possible that some of the parents of children registered
as awaiting a vacancy may have subsequenty declined the offer on other than medical grounds, or have
been rejected by the authorities of the school, and these refusals or rejections may not have come to the
notice of the department, and to this extent there will be overlapping in the figures above quoted.
Some of the children in elementary school attendance might do better in a residential school
but the large proportion are no doubt capable of deriving benefit from the ordinary education. Of those
out of school, some would be unfit for any education but it might be estimated that at least half would
benefit in some measure from attendance at a residential school.
Physical Exercises.
A fault from which any system of physical exercises is liable to suffer is that of becoming automatic
and dull. Just as food eaten without appetite does not nourish, so exercises performed without
enthusiasm fail to develop physical strength and beauty. A good system, in the absence of vivacious
understanding on the part of those who practise it, is less productive of results than a second best system,
when the exercises are carried out with zest and delight.
The syllabus of physical education in use in the schools is by no means exempt from the operation
of this axiom and the announcement in the last, Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board
of Education that the forthcoming new edition of the syllabus will allow of more freedom and less formality
is one that is very heartening; for the bane of the exercises as generally performed in the
schools to-day is dullness, formality and absence of the sense of enjoyment.
In a recent inspection of town and country children under standardised conditions, it was noted
that the poise and deportment of London girls were much superior to that of the boys and that no difference
in these respects was to be noted between the country boys and girls who both fall short of the
London girls. The love of the London girl child for dancing is proverbial and the teaching of dancing
in the schools has no doubt greatly helped, if it has not saved, the situation in regard to the physical
development of London girls. Particularly noticeable is the much better arched instep of the latter in
comparison with their own brothers and with the country children generally. The relative absence of
fiat foot thus brought about is the foundation of that grace of carriage which the typical London girl
of the elementary school class exhibits. In the country schools enquiry elicited the fact that no
dancing was taught in school, nor did the children there enjoy those outside adventitious stimuli to an
interest in dancing which are characteristic of London life.
In 1917 the Board of Education included regulations for the organisation and supervision of
Physical Training in Public Elementary Schools in the Medical Grant Regulations. The grant is to be
paid in aid of expenditure upon the salaries of organisers of physical training of children in public
elementary schools. In determining the rate of grant the Board will take into account, among other
things, the steps taken to co-ordinate the arrangements with the work of the school medical service.
(Regulation 14 (c.))