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inclement weather. I personally consider that some permanent ventilating system
such as air bricks is advisable. One school is held in a basement and the ventilation
is in consequence very bad.
Heating in two schools is by the central system, in the others by gas radiators
or coal fires, but one school is practically devoid of any heating arrangements and
another school requires additional gas radiators.
The ordinary daylight is not of such importance in Talmud Torah classes as in
the L.C.C. schools, because the former are conducted in the evenings. In connection
with the recommendation that the light should come from the left it is to be remembered
that English is read from the left whereas Hebrew is read from the
right.
In five schools the electric lighting was insufficient, but if the authorities instal
frosted or opal bulbs of not less than 100 watts and fitted with shades, the lighting
problem would be solved.
Sanitation.—It is to be noted that the pupils are not in the Talmud Torah all
day and it is not necessary to have a large number of W.C.s and urinals; and as
some of the Talmud Torahs are part of a Synagogue building, the pupils can avail
themselves of the adult conveniences, where as is often the case these are used once
a week only on a Sabbath. In three of the schools, however, the lavatories are not
in working order, and in two the accommodation was quite insufficient, there being
not more than one W.C. for over 100 children. A very large number of the lavatories
are not supplied with toilet paper.
Cloakrooms are absent in the majority of the schools, and the pupils hang their
clothes on pegs round the walls of the classrooms. In several schools lack of space
prevents this being altered.
Towel and soap are rarely seen; with this the schools should certainly deal.
Apart from their being hygienic necessities, surely the religious rites demand it.
The question of desks is a very difficult one. To instal up-to-date desks would need
a large amount of money and furthermore there is not the same uniformity of ages
of pupils in Talmud Torahs as in the day schools. It is quite common to find pupils
of 5 and 10 years old in the same class, and so the desk of the former would not be
very suitable for the latter.
Another very difficult problem is the one of overcrowding. A Talmud Torah
may not be able to accommodate any more pupils, but if new ones seek to be enrolled
they are not refused. Taking into consideration the precarious financial position
of these institutions, one cannot reasonably blame the managers.
The majority of the schools have no precautions against emergencies. Fire
drill should be carried out regularly in each school and where there are no fire
extinguishers, they should be got.
The headmasters and staff are quite willing to carry out to the best of their
abilities such recommendations as are suggested to them, and my thanks are due to
the respective staffs for their kind assistance during my inspection.
About 1,900 children were seen by me. Conditions and time do not permit of
thorough examination, nevertheless 480 children referred by me to the L.C.C.
divisional medical officers are requiring attention, as follows:—
Dental treatment 143
Visual defect 141
Throat (glands, tonsils, sore
throat) 73
Anaemia, debility 40
Respiratory (bronchitis, catarrh,
coughs) 18
Nervousness, backwardness 16
Pains (rheumatic) 11
Skin 8
Ear 4
Children referred for more than
one complaint 26
480