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and the modernising of 15 schools. At the end of 1930 out of 31 sites acquired, in
15 cases the new buildings have been opened, building operations are in progress
on 7 sites, 6 sites are available for building and 3 sites are being cleared. Some
delay in the carrying out of the programme has occurred owing to the new policy
decided upon in relation to the grouping of schools on the basis of a break at 11+.
This has delayed the modernising work more than it has the provision of new schools.
During the period, the modernisation of three schools has been completed and, in
four cases, the necessary alterations are being carried out. At the present time
94.7 per cent, of the classrooms are on the "40 and 48" basis as compared with
57 per cent, in April, 1924.
In all new and remodelled schools provision is made for a medical inspection room.
It cannot be said that the medical inspection rooms hitherto provided have given
complete satisfaction. It is held that, in order that vision testing can be carried out
with Snellen's types, all rooms used for medical inspection should measure at least
20 ft. in one direction. The result of this practice is to produce rooms which are
long and narrow and the exigencies of school planning determine that the window
should be at one end and the door at the other in almost every instance. If the
rooms are placed near the school hall they are found to be noisy, if they are placed
at a distance from the hall there is no convenient place in which parents and children
may wait. It is probably not possible to solve the difficulties entirely but if a length
of 20 ft. were no longer insisted upon more freedom would be acquired in planning
the rooms, which could often be of a more convenient shape. A decision was made
during 1930 by the Council to supply hot water wherever a medical inspection
room was established in schools.
In many of the older schools trough closets still exist but they are being dealt
with steadily according to plan and are being replaced by modern fittings. The
Council's architect has given particulars of 9 schools with which it is proposed to
deal during the present year.
The Results of Medical Inspection.
The number of elementary school children inspected in the three statutory age
groups (entrants, children aged 8 and children aged 12) during 1930, was 168,248,
being 20,896 fewer than in 1929. The group of children aged 12, only numbered
42,548, the year of birth 1918, being one of abnormally low birth-rate. In addition
48,605 children were fully inspected in the term previous to that in which they were
due to leave and 1,605 children in special schools were also inspected in their age
groups.
Age groups.
The number of children not falling in the four age groups, referred lor
examination for special reasons by care committee workers, teachers, school nurses,
attendance officers, etc., was 36,803, while additional children to the number of
49,349 were inspected in groups in connection with school journeys, open-air classes,
camp schools and so forth.
Special
inspections.
The grand total of children inspected during the year amounted to 304,620.
When it is considered that in addition 186,615 children under observation for
previously recorded defect were re-inspected, it is evident that the total number
of school children seen by the school doctors, during the year, forms a high
percentage of the children on the school rolls. Every child in attendance is also
inspected thrice annually by the school nurse.
Total
inspections.
Parents are invited to all routine primary inspections but not always to special
inspections and rarely in re-inspections. The proportion of parents responding to
the invitation to be present was for the three statutory age groups, 74.8 per cent.,
which was a great improvement on previous years. In the case of entrant infants,
the percentage of attendance of parents was 89. The interest now shown by the
parents in the medical inspection of their children is very gratifying. It may be said
that only the accident of sickness or pressing emergency prevents the parents of
children from meeting the doctor at the entrant examination. Because it reaches
practically the whole population there is probably no other influence which can
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Attendance
of parents.