View report page

87
Barking has been no exception to the epidemics of the commoner infectious diseases
which have prevailed in profusion in the London Area during the past year.
The number of children suffering from such conditions as Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria,
and Chicken Pox will be seen from the table to show a large increase over those for the
previous year.
Where the attendance of a school falls below 60 per cent. and in the opinion of the
Medical Officer this low attendance is directly due to the prevalence of infectious disease,
the school sessions so affected are not counted in estimating the average attendance for
the purpose of grant.
During 1933, three such certificates were granted for this purpose.
Arrangements are made for the ascertainment and exclusion from school of individual
children whose exclusion is desirable in order to prevent the spread of disease, and for
this purpose the Exclusion Periods contained in the Appendix to The Memorandum on
Closure of and Exclusion from School, issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and the
Board of Education in 1925 have been accepted.
(9) OPEN-AIR EDUCATION.
Open-Air Classrooms.—In those schools built since 1931, ample provision has been
made for admitting open-air to the classrooms. A quadrangle arrangement has been
adopted in these schools, and the windows on the outer and inner sides of all classrooms
may be thrown open.
Playground Classes.—In the older schools however, conditions are not so favourable,
and I must continue to strongly advocate holding open-air classes in suitable weather,
whenever possible.
School Journeys and Camps.—School Camps are run during the week-ends from
Friday to Monday evening. The camp is of a permanent nature, and is situated at
Hainault. Fifteen camps were held during the year, in which 708 scholars
participated.
During the summer holidays too, there are additional camps where children are
taken for a fortnight at a time to the same huts at Hainault, 96 children taking part in the
two such camps.
These camps have been very much appreciated by the school population, and parents
have been very pleased to have these opportunities for their children to have a
holiday.
In selecting children for these camps, a medical and cleanliness inspection is held,
and for the summer camps those children are selected in whom a debilitated physical
condition is found, or in whom straightened family circumstances make a holiday desirable.