View report page

77
It is necessary that the pupil's medical record card should be consulted before
allowing him to compete for his efficiency mark, and in doubtful cases to refer to the
school doctor's opinion; with this proviso, such physical tests will prove very valuable
in encouraging boys to develop their physical condition to its maximum efficiency.
The holding of special exercise classes in the schools for the benefit of children
found by the school doctors to need corrective exercises for incipient and postural
deformities is a very valuable extension of the physical exercises movement. These
children are taken by a specially competent teacher in small groups in which individual
attention is possible, and the classes are held more frequently than it is
practicable to arrange for the general school population. The results of the
classes under favourable conditions are remarkable.
Corrective
exercises for
special
children.
Amongst many special reports received from the school doctors, the following
account by Dr. C. E. Thornton of the class under his medical supervision in the girls'
department of Smallwood-road School will serve to illustrate the methods followed:—
"The results obtained in the remedial exercise class at this school continue to be very
good, a fact attributable to the capability and enthusiasm of the mistress in charge,
Miss Sayer. The class consists of 25 girls mostly suffering from the milder degrees
of lateral and antero-posterior spinal curvature. In a few cases other deformities
are present. The exercises are carried out daily, and in the majority of the cases,
in addition to the deformity being reduced or completely cured, a great improvement
in the general health is noticeable. Following is an analysis of the defects treated
and the results:—Number in class 26. Admissions 1922, 34; discharged cured 26,
improved 18. Defects, Kyphosis 26, Scoliosis 11, Kypho-scoliosis 10, Flat feet 3,
Talipes 2."
In the last report reference was made to the experimental scheme of physical
education carried out at Vauxhall-street Council School. Dr. E. J. Boome has continued
his interest in the scheme and some important researches into the question of
fatigue have been carried out. I am indebted to Messrs. H. P. Haley and W. C.
Barham, masters at the school for notes upon the work.
Among the general results observed Mr. Haley points out:—
1. Physical.—The majority with pale sickly features have become a minority
and a healthy brightness predominates. The flabby indefinite muscle formation has
hardened into definite form promising development, physical activity, agility and
good deportment have superseded lethargy and slothfulness, and medical inspection
has commented favourably upon the changes.
2. Moral.—The unkempt and dirty post-war appearance has been replaced to
such good effect as to prove deceptive to the visitor as to the actual social standing of
the children. A very unpleasant and despicable tone has been counteracted and the
finer spirit of playing the game inculcated through the instrumentality of sportsmanship.
3. General.—It was noted that the classes specialising in the scheme consistently
had the best weekly attendances. The absences from actual sickness were
so few as to be almost negligible. Personal thanks from a few parents is evidence
that the scheme has produced beneficial results which have not escaped notice in
the homes.
Some interesting observations have been made on the temporary loss of physical
fitness associated with the onset of puberty in lads, followed by increased progress.
Also the effect of contracting the habit of smoking has again been shown in a failure
to show physical progress. The measurements upon which these observations were
founded were obtained by means of Verdin's spirometer and were taken in the same
manner as those carried out at Oxford by Professor Dreyer.
Mr. Barham undertook a regular series of measurements on the class under his
control with a view to ascertaining the diurnal and hebdomadal variation of capacity
amongst school boys. Some notes on these observations are given in the section
dealing with special enquiries.
TheVauxhall
Street School
experiments.