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Non-provided schools:— Boys Girls
Fairfield House, Broadstairs — 173
Russell Cotes school, Bournemouth — 239
St. Vincent's, Hastings — 28
Loughton 25 25
Total 25 465
The actual number of children away at these schools at one time in November,
1934, was: Bushy Park, 270; Margate, 64; St. Leonards, 64; Bournemouth, 30;
Broadstairs, 36; Hastings, 4. Total, 468 children, of whom 198 were girls and 270
boys.
The head master of the King's Canadian residential open-air school has
submitted the following account of the physical activities:—
In addition to the physical training taken in the ordinary class-work, 1,579 boys, out of a
total of 2,835 admitted to the school, received further exercises. Of these, 521 boys received
special corrective exercises.
With regard to general training, difficulties arise owing to the great differences of age of
boys in the same class. This difficulty has been overcome, however, and new progressive courses
for four and six weeks have been made to suit the younger boys, while giving ample scope to the
senior boys.
Special remedial work does not present this difficulty, as each child is given individual
attention. Cases for treatment are chosen by the school doctor and include boys having a tendency
towards kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis, torticollis and flat feet. Serious cases of flat feet are
followed up after leaving the school. Such cases have totalled 30. Special cards of corrective
exercises are issued to flat feet cases for use in the home, while cards giving general instructions
with regard to carriage, posture and breathing are issued to the remainder. In this way an
effort is made to further and complete the work done in the school.
A pleasing feature of the work is the interest and enthusiasm shown by the parents of the
children, and this assists the work considerably. As in 1933, the physical standard of boys from
Paddington, Peckham and Deptford is considerably below that of the remaining districts visiting
the school.
Below is a summary of cases treated at the school:—
Total on roll 2,835
Total taken for general remedial exercises 1,579
Total taken for special remedial exercises 521
The numbers of special cases treated were: kyphosis, 180; lordosis, 74; scoliosis, 48;
torticollis, 2 ; flat feet, 179; mouth breathing, 37; knock knee, 1.
The average increase in weight (four weeks) was 2.5 lb.
Of the 2,835 boys admitted in 1934, it was possible to grant extensions to 179 for health
reasons. During the year 22 boys suffering from infectious diseases were transferred to appropriate
hospitals while 3 others were admitted to hospital for other serious illness. During the
year 18 were nursed in the sick ward at the school. The number of separate treatments for minor
ailments given by the school nurses was 19,332. It has been found possible to continue at the
school the treatment of 30 stammerers.
Particulars of dental treatment carried out during the year are as follows:—
Total number of bovs treated 1,624
Extractions (a) undergas 243
(6) local anaesthetic 143
Fillings 1,077
Scalings 636
Gum treatment—number of boys 182
Fairfield
House,
Broadstairs.
The children on their return from the camp schools are kept under observation
by the school care committees. An analysis of notes made by them in regard to a
number of children who went to Broadstairs shows that, in 90 per cent, of the cases,
not only were the children remarkably improved on return from their stay, but that
this improvement in health was maintained for many months, and indeed as long as
observation has been kept up, extending in some instances into after-school life.
The children at Broadstairs are examined at the beginning and end of their
stay for the haemoglobin content of the blood. An examination of a number of the
records on the return of the children shows that there was an average increase of
8.7 per cent, in haemoglobin.
Open-air
classes in
parks and
playgrounds.
The number of open-air classes held in connection with the elementary schools
in 1934 was 220, an increase of 11 compared with 1933. Of these 12 were of type A
(children selected on medical grounds from a group of schools); 85 were of type B
(children selected on medical grounds from the various classes of a single school) ;