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inspections form part of the daily routine in many schools, and in at least one
case, time is allocated for this purpose on the time table. Marks for the
individual, team or house are often awarded in connection with these inspections,
and, in one case, are taken into account in connection with the prize scheme.
A ' clean hands ' chart is used in one school; in several others, nit combs,
soap, tooth brushes or tooth paste are on sale, and while the attendance of
boys and girls at the local baths for a hot bath is very generally encouraged, in
one case arrangements are made for regular attendance for this purpose.
Exercises in breathing are taken in connection with Physical exercises and
singing lessons, and use of the handkerchief taught. The importance of
ventilation is shown practically by the generally prevailing practice of opening
any window which may be closed at the beginning of the singing lesson, and
of the physical exercise lesson if this is taken within the school building. The
necessity for and value of certain types of food is practically demonstrated by
the provision of milk and cod liver oil for delicate children. In many schools,
too, the annual school journey becomes an occasion for the teaching of healthy
habits. In poor neighbourhoods where footwear is defective, plimsolls or
knitted shoes are available, and the children practically taught the danger of
wet feet. In many class-rooms, coloured health mottoes are exhibited. In
one girls' school a junior Red Cross branch of sixty girls of thirteen years' old
has been formed, and the Red Cross code of health laws adopted.
3. The actual practice of healthy living given in these various ways, is
often reinforced by talks given by head teachers at school assembly. Occasions
present themselves, from time to time, which make such addresses necessary,
but it is probably true that the subjects for these talks are not always chosen
so as to form part of a definite course. The value of this incidental teaching
would be enhanced by systematic planning, but, even so, its aim would be
habit formation rather than instruction in definite health knowledge, though
a special feature is made in many schools of imparting some such knowledge
during ' health week.'
4. The inculcation of healthy habits of living is undoubtedly regarded as
an important educational activity by London teachers, and is receiving its due
share of attention in the elementary schools. The Chief Medical Officer's
report, paragraph 78 (page 76) suggests that, for children under 11 years of age,
a few minutes every day should be devoted to simple practical teaching directed
to the formation of healthy habits. It may unhesitatingly be affirmed that
this is now satisfactorily being done, and that there is no ground whatever
for suggesting that regular and systematic education in regard to the practice
of hygienic habits is neglected by London teachers.
5. Where the London practice does not go quite so far as the Chief
Medical Officer would like is in regard to the instruction of children over 11
years of age. For these, the Chief Medical Officer says ' there should be
systematic and interesting study and practice in hygiene as a definite subject
of the time-table every week.' In the L.C.C. 1923 Memorandum on the Laws
of Health, Preface, the statement appears ' Nor is it always possible to include
hygiene as a separate subject of the curriculum.' Incidental teaching is
recommended and ' especially during the last year of school life '—' one or
two special lessons each term.' Apparently there is a distinct difference of
official opinion as to the amount of attention that should necessarily be devoted
to instruction in theoretical hygiene.
6. In regard to actual practice of teaching this subject in the schools, it
may be stated that the Council's district inspectors visited 101 boys' or mixed
and 98 girls' or mixed schools, and found that some instruction in hygiene is
prescribed in the syllabuses for children over 11 years of age (i.e., Standard V,