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The decrease in the number of rota examinations made by the nurses was due
to the demands made on their services as a result of an epidemic of measles which
occurred in the early months of the year.
Rota
examinations.
The decrease in the percentage of verminous cases to the number examined is
further evidence of the improvement in the cleanliness of the children to which
reference has already been made. There has also been a noticeable improvement
in the attitude of the parents, which may be attributed to their confidence in the
nurses and the tactful manner in which the latter carry out their duties.
The number of children attending for warm baths during school hours was
40,555 in 1928, as compared with 40,371 in 1927.
Use of pnblio
washing
facilities.
Physical Education and the Teaching of Hygiene.
In their report to the Education Committee for the year ended July, 1928, the
Organisers (Mr. A. H. A. Gem and Miss Grant S. Clark) in the section on Elementary
Schools point out that of all cities, London has the greatest difficulties to contend
with so far as playing fields are concerned, and as year succeeds year it is evident
that the school playground, however imperfect, must be the centre of the school's
physical activities.
Report
by the
organisers
of Physical
education.
The syllabus lesson which provides postural and general training for every child
should be the foundation of all school physical training and should be carried out
whenever practicable in the school playground.
There has been a steady strengthening of the activity training which formerly
was overshadowed by the formal exercises, and activities are selected with more
discernment to the needs of the children and are much better planned and
organised.
The organisers emphasise the superiority of short daily periods of exercise over
more extended periods taken, say, only twice a week. The Council in July, 1927,
circularised all schools informing the head teachers that it was desired that a minimum
of one hundred minutes a week should be devoted to physical education and that
this time should be distributed over not fewer than four days a week. Considerable
progress has been made in adapting time-tables to this desired end.
With regard to organised games, so especially important for London children
who have few natural opportunities for play in the open, it is reported that last season
211 football, 402 cricket and 374 netball pitches were available in the parks and open
spaces. Facilities were provided for swimming lessons in public baths for 94,157
boys and 62,691 girls.
The remarkable work is detailed of the various All-London Association organised
by the teachers who devote many hours out of school to these activities. Amongst
these are the following :—
(1) London Schools' Athletic Association.—The above Association is composed
of 25 affiliated district associations, covering some 750 schools. During the past year
each of these districts held their own athletic meetings, and selected representatives
to compete in the All-London Championships, which were held at the Stadium,
Woolwich, on Saturday, June 30th. The Battersea Association were the winners
of the boys' and South London the winners of the girls' championships. In many
respects the recent meeting provided an even higher quality of performance than
has been the case in former years.
(2) London Schools' Amateur Boxing Association.—The past year has shown a
steady increase in the interest in schoolboy boxing. Very successful district and
divisional eliminating competitions have been held, the number of competitors being
978 juniors, and 188 seniors, giving a total of 1,166 as compared with a total of 833
last year. There was a strong feeling that the quality of the boxing had advanced,
and this belief had its confirmation when London competitors won fourteen out of
sixteen Schoolboy Championships of Great Britain.