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aural disease in this section are rendered by Mr. A. G. Wells, while Dr. McVail
carries out the medical supervision of blind schools, schools for the partially sighted, etc.
The duties of Miss D. E. Bannon, matron-in-chief in the public health department,
include the superintendence of the school nursing staff in addition to the supervision
and organisation of the nursing and certain other staff at hospitals and institutions.
The school nursing service comprises at present five assistant superintendents, 65
nursing sisters and 340 nurses.
It is with the most profound regret that I record here the severe loss sustained
by the department in the death, on 25th September, of Dr. F. C. Shrubsall, who
had been connected with the service from January, 1909. His association with the
development of the public care of mentally deficient persons gave him a unique
position in this sphere. His high professional qualifications and great experience
as one of the pioneers of the service were such that his death has made a gap in the
ranks which can only with the greatest difficulty be filled.
School buildings and equipment.
A full account of the Council's new standard planning adopted in October,
1934, was printed in the last annual report. The new standard introduces great
improvements in hygiene, including hot water supplies to lavatories, provision for
drying clothes in cloak-rooms, medical inspection rooms, improved natural lighting,
and advances in equipment. The standard is being applied not only to new schools
but to the reconstruction and remodelling of those which are out of date.
A three-years programme of development adopted for the years 1935-38
includes the erection of 15 new schools, the rebuilding or modernisation of 40
existing schools, the enlargement of 4 schools, the provision of further accommodation
to meet housing developments, etc., and the acquisition of playing fields. A further
feature of the programme is the reconditioning of premises and the provision of the
amenities included in the new standard planning by a systematic overhaul of schools
in which rebuilding or remodelling is not contemplated or due.
By the end of the year 1935, considerable progress had been made. Three new
schools or enlargements had been completed, and in five others building work was
in progress. In six schools, scheduled for rebuilding or modernisation, building
work was also in progress. The programme provided for 21 schools to be reconditioned,
and those not already completed were in the builders' hands.
The reorganisation of schools and the consequent segregation of children of
different age groups in schools originally designed for children of all ages has produced
difficulties. Desking has constantly to be watched as it not infrequently happens
that older children are found seated in desks which are only suitable for younger
children, and vice versa. The height of pedestals of closet seats is another difficulty
which arises, and this is more difficult to adjust as considerable expenditure is involved
in making alterations. A fault commonly found everywhere in England is the
installation of pedestals which are of too great height. School pedestals should
always be as low as possible. Had this principle been recognised in the past, the
difficulties in this respect in the reorganisation of schools would not have arisen to
the same extent.
It has recently been decided, with the approval of the Board of Education, in
future to limit the use of pedestals to three sizes only and to provide inserta pads
instead of seats. The sizes are: babies', 8 inches ; infants', 10 inches ; others, 14 inches.
Many of the older schools are still equipped with trough closets. The Council
has decided to hasten the modernisation of all schools in this respect with a view to
the complete eradication of trough closets from all schools by the end of five years
after 1935 ; 20 schools will be dealt with in 1936-37.
Reference was made in last year's annual report to the supply, under the new
programme, of a large number of tables and chairs in lieu of fixed dual desks, and
figures were given of the range of heights of tables and seats from the floor. During
1935, consideration has been given to the most suitable form of back-rest for chairs
and the following specification has been adopted: a simple cross bar 3 inches to 4
inches in depth comfortably hollowed, whose lower margin is one half the distance