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The following details are given of the remedial work carried out at the King's
Canadian residential open-air school. The number of admissions was 2,718, of whom
46.6 per cent, received necessary remedial treatment at the remedial centre under
physical training experts. There was an average increase in weight of 2.96 lbs.
during the period that the children remained at the school. In all 302 boys
received treatment for physical defects: 116 for kyphosis, 37 for lordosis, 83 for
postural scoliosis, 61 mouth breathers, and 3 bow legs.
Treatment was given to 612 boys, in small groups, for faulty carriage, shallow
breathing, flat chests, etc.
There were, in addition, 341 cases of flat foot that showed most promise of cure.
These were thoroughly taught a few simple corrective exercises, supplied with printed
cards of the same, and given advice as to footwear. The number of cases of flat
foot shows no sign of abatement, and the above number does not represent the whole
of the trouble, as many cases have passed the stage at which the limited treatment
available would be effective.
Particulars of treatment by doctor, school nurses, and dentist are as follows:
minor ailments—14,080 treatments given; infectious illness—5 cases were sent to
the appropriate hospital and 25 cases of sickness were treated in the sick ward;
dental—extractions 878, fillings 1,104, gum treatment 871 treatments of 189 boys,
Scalings 535.
School journeys.
During the year 1931, 449 school journeys were made (compared with 503 in
1930), and the children taking part were medically examined in 448 cases before
departure. In all 13,671 children were examined (the corresponding figure for 1930
being 16,415) ; and of these 53 (97 in 1930) were rejected as unfit to take part in the
journeys on various grounds, including the following (the figures in parenthesis refer
to the year 1930):—otorrhoea, 4 (10); infectious disease or contacts, 3 (8); tonsillitis
and kindred ailments, 15 (12); temperature, 3 (7); personal hygiene, 3 (3); skin
diseases, 13 (9). Several children were provisionally rejected on grounds connected
with personal hygiene but were subsequently passed. The precautions taken to
prevent the spread of infectious illness are shown on page 90.
Nursery schools.
At the beginning of the year 1931, the total recognised nursery school accommodation
in London was 1,004 in 13 schools, 400 places being maintained and 604 aided.
In October, 1931, this accommodation was raised from 1,004 to 1,064 by the opening
of the North Kensington nursery school in Kensal-road, W.10. This is a pleasant
and well-designed building with two open-air classrooms, the space in which gives
19 square feet for each of the 60 children.
Until April, 1931, when the school suffered an irreparable loss in the death of
Miss Margaret McMillan, to whose devoted work the success of this school, and indeed
that of the whole nursery school movement, is due, the Rachel McMillan nursery
school in Deptford consisted of an aided portion (160) and a maintained portion (100).
Thereafter the aided portion was taken over by the Council. The total accommodation
remained unchanged, but the effect was that the recognised roll of schools for
which the Council is solely responsible (560 in three schools) now exceeds that of the
aided schools (504 in 11 schools).
Proposals at the end of the year included a school for 40 on the top (fourth storey)
of a block of flats in Bridgewater-street, St. Pancras, and another for about 50
children in Claverton-street, Westminster.
Special observation has been made of the Council's two experimental nursery
schools in Columbia Market, Bethnal Green, and Old Church-road, Mile End. Great
improvement in the physical and mental condition of the children at both schools
has been noted.
Meals consist of a light lunch of milk, bread or rusks and butter, or porridge
and milk at about 9 o'clock, a good and varied two-course dinner, followed by a piece
of raw apple at or shortly before midday, and a meal of milk, home-made cake or
King's
Canadian
residential
open-air
school.