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Syllabus work.—(i) Boys.—Speaking in general terms, the instruction has definitely improved,
and this is perhaps specially noticeable in the general activity section of the lesson which was
referred to in the last report as being the weaker side of the work. There is now a better appreciation
of the fact that the games played and the activities carried out must be suited to the age of
the child performing them, and this section of the lesson is much more adequately planned than
was formerly the case.
(ii) Oirls.—The work seen in the last two years shows that the approved contemporary
type of lesson has taken hold, and there are now very few schools in which it is not interpreted
to a reasonable degree. Where the work is really well done the children are supple and agile and
have developed that sense of control and poise (sometimes to a remarkable extent) which is the
final test of good training.
(iii) Infants.—With the active type of lesson which has been employed of recent years, there
has developed a sturdiness and sure-footedness which must give these young children a delightful
feeling of strength. As the number of teachers who have attended classes increases, so does the
work throughout the schools gain in general effectiveness.
A better use is now made of a progressive scheme which demands more of the children
at the various stages where they are ready and eager to give more. However simple and informal
the exercises are, they always have a certain "form" to which attention should be paid if they
are to obtain the best results. This side of the training is sometimes lost sight of. It is unusual
now to come upon a school where the value of outdoor activity is not realised.
General organisation.—There is increasingly in evidence a readiness on the part of many of
the head teachers to make fuller provision for the physical training of their children, and it is now
a comparatively rare event to find a school content to devote the minimum times required by the
Code to this side of education. Whilst many schools have daily lessons or their equivalent, there
are still some in need of a more liberal allocation of time. In schools which have been fully inspected
during the past two years the average number of periods given to all branches of physical education
is four per week in the senior classes and four per week in junior classes. These times constitute
a definite advance so far as the juniors are concerned, and although still falling somewhat
short of the allocation desired, they nevertheless indicate that steady progress is being made in
this direction.
Health classes.—Various factors have combined to reduce the number of these classes
recently. With the reorganisation of departments and the consequent change of staff, some
schools have found it necessary to drop these classes temporarily. In other cases the classes have
ceased owing to the fact that the school doctor has found that the children do not now require
this special type of lesson.
It is considered that contributory reasons for this satisfactory state of affaire are as follows :
the increase in time given to physical training throughout the school and more especially in the
junior classes, the more effective work done in the infant schools and the type of exercise (requiring
increased mobility) employed. It is more common to find the lessons taken out of doors than was
formerly the practice.
A special course for teachers of health classes will be held in the summer term of 1932.
Equipment and Accommodation.—The London child has very limited opportunities of playing
on grass and thus the problem of taking part in certain types of jumping is a difficult one. An
experiment is now being tried of providing sand pits in a few senior playgrounds for long and high
jumping. There are some half-a-dozen schools whose playgrounds are to be remodelled, and it
is in these schools that the experiment is to be undertaken. The provision of jumping pits should
not only ensure a distinct improvement in the quality of the jumping, but also will make possible
the introduction of many admirable group activities.
The quality of the swimming instruction has improved during the past two years, and the
problem is now far more frequently tackled on a class, rather than an individual basis.
For some years there has been confusion owing to the multiplicity of swimming certificates
issued; and, moreover, experience shows that during the school age there is not a sufficiently
marked difference between the swimming of the boys and that of the girls to justify the acceptance
of different standards. It has been decided that in future the Council shall issue one certificate
only, that the certificate shall be a learner's certificate and that the distance required shall be
40 yards both for boys and for girls. Advanced certificates are issued in great variety by local
associations and by the London Schools' Swimming Association.
It will be recalled that attention was directed to the inadequate cleansing and lavatory
facilities provided in many of the public baths and it was decided that representations should
be made to the various borough councils with regard to this matter. It was considered that better
results might be achieved if the representations were made in a semi-official manner, and a
conference was therefore arranged with the London Schools' Swimming Association at which it
was decided that the various affiliated local associations should raise the matter with their
respective borough authorities. In the meantime the Council improved the facilities in its own
baths, which are now well equipped in this direction. The admirable efforts of the London Schools'
Swimming Association have met with only slight success, as only five additional footbaths, five
additional shower baths and two additional lavatories have been provided. The majority of
the authorities have not adopted a progressive policy in this matter and it is recommended that the
Council, being the largest user of these baths, should, when financial circumstances permit, bring
(2)Swimming