London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1931

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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39
of the headmasters. It is hoped that all concerned will co-operate in furthering the work of the
Association. In spite of the difficulties, successful competitions were held and 1,011 boys took
part.
The London Schools' Cricket Association has had a successful season and now has twentyfive
affiliated district associations (within the county). The reorganisation of schools has, for
the time being, had an adverse effect on the Cricket Conference training scheme. In 1929 the
number attending was 860, but this fell to 600 in 1930. This year there has been a slight increase,
and it is confidently anticipated that, when conditions become more settled, the number of boys
taking advantage of the scheme will steadily increase.
The London Schools' Football Association was formed in 1893 with only eight district associations
in affiliation. It now caters for 49 associations and seven central school leagues. The total
number of schools in greater London under the control of the Association is 1,079. Practically
all elementary schools are dependent on the playing field facilities provided by the local
authorities and in the London County Council area there are 350 pitches in use every Saturday
morning. The scheme whereby the allocation of these pitches is dealt with by the London Schools'
Football Association and the parks department works very satisfactorily.
The Association conducts annually five competitions, all of which have been carried out with
great success. It is of interest to record that the Islington team won the English schools' shield
this year.
The London Schools' Netball Association has had a successful season and now has 23 district
associations affiliated, representing 289 London schools.

The number of certificates gained is as follows :—

First class.Second class.Total.
Boys6,6968,77815,474
Girls12,2649,01221,276
Grand Total36,750

As a natural corollary to the ability to swim, great stress is laid on life-saving, and the results achieved, whilst not quite numerically so great as last year, are nevertheless highly commendable.

Advanced certificate.Elementary certificate.Total.
Boys1,1161,5372,653
Girls2,0052,4474,452
Grand Total7,105

Seven further names were added to the roll of honour for those saving, or attempting to
save, life, bringing the total up to 430.
It is of interest to quote the following extract from the annual report of the London Schools'
Swimming Association, dealing with the problem of the provision and use of the lavatory and
cleansing facilities:—
"... a large number of the older establishments are sadly lacking in this respect
(i.e., lavatory and cleansing facilities) and even where facilities such as footbaths do exist,
the use of the same by bathers is often not insisted upon before they are allowed to enter the
pool.
"Much work remains to be done in the education of the authorities and of the general
public in this direction, and teachers are urged to bring all their influence to bear on this matter
and especially in the case of the children of to-day who will be the public of to-morrow."
A growing volume of public opinion is noticeable with regard to this important question,
and it is considered that pressure should be brought to bear on the authorities concerned to provide
adequate facilities and to make the use of them compulsory for all.
Hygiene is now generally taught, according to a syllabus, to older children
in the schools.
One of the most distressing features of the work of children's care is the widespread
indifference on the part of the population to care of the teeth. The school
dental service and the care organisation have always been alive to this, and much
Teaching of
hygiene.