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137
Organised games form an important part of the Council's scheme for physical
education. The following table, taken from a report by the Education Officer, shows
the number of hours' play available each week during 1925:—

The figures in the foregoing table refer only to the accommodation available
for organised games during school time.
The Education Officer reports that assuming that it were possible to use all the
pitches for the whole time they are at the disposal of the schools, 93,324 boys could
play a game of cricket for an hour a week during school time. Similarly, 71,082 boys
could play a game of football for one hour a week.
Unfortunately, however, the distribution of the pitches is not that of the schools
and in the central areas of London the provision is quite inadequate.
The organiser of physical education (Major A. H. A. Gem) in his report to the
Education Committee in 1925, points out that the Committee requires that three
periods a week, each of 20 minutes, shall be devoted to syllabus work in physical
exercises. Where a boy gets a games period and a visit to the baths in addition,
the time devoted to physical education would appear as adequate; but, generally
speaking, games and swimming only affect the top classes of the school, and the lower
classes only get three periods of 20 minutes, which is really inadequate. Major Gem
suggests that, as the allowance of the Board is a maximum of 125 minutes, or in
congested areas 140 minutes a week, the Council might usefully consider extending
the period for physical exercises in the case of those not taking swimming and games.
The Council recently made a free issue of a kit sack, containing 4 footballs, 12
small rubber balls, 32 yards of rope and 4 sets of team colours for all schools.
The number of boys taught to swim between April, 1924, and March, 1925. was
24,129.
Major Gem refers to Games and Athletics Outside School Hours: "London
boys owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those teachers who give up so much
of their own time to foster and organise sports and games. It should always be
remembered that the inter-school matches, district meetings, etc., represent only
a very small part of this work. Before such things can be attempted there is much
solid coaching to be done. It should also be realised that this work is, in the main,
borne by the few. A school is fortunate if three or four members of the staff interest
themselves in out-of-school games; in many cases there is only one such teacher
who, winter and summer, gives his own time to the work. Such reap their reward
in the affection and loyalty of the boys for whom they work, and they have the
consciousness of doing most valuable work, not only for the health, but also for
the character of their boys."
A sign of the times is the fact that girls in the elementary schools are taking
more and more part in athletic contests and athletic sports.
At swimming galas in London during 1925 there were 11,500 competitors
amongst the elementary school children of whom possibly 4,000 were girls.
While strenuous exercise is an essential stimulus to development, care must be
taken that artificial exercise is not too severe. Special care should be taken to avoid
prolonged maximum exertion. There is a great difference between the physiological
condition of the child up to the age of puberty and the child after this period.