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In this bright picture, however, there is one dark spot, and that is you have not
provided-proper bathing facilities except in one or two of your schools. Physical
exercises among the ordinary boys, which include just that proper degree of rough
and tumble, makes subsequent bathing a necessary refinement, or perhaps I may be
permitted to say from my standpoint an obligatory measure. Amongst the older
girls, and indeed amongst many of the younger children, bathing should be looked
upon as a natural finale to physical exercises. May I hope this matter will be one
to which you will give your earnest attention ?
(b) Swimming.—With reference to swimming, I have previously stated that
I look upon it as an excellent form of physical exercise, and in addition, it is an
opportunity for teachers to see the children unclothed, and to form a better opinion
than they otherwise could, of the degree of physical training required in individual
cases.
(c) Boxing.—With reference to boxing, the Secretary of the Barking Schools'
Sports Association refers all boys who have been selected for bouts in the boxing
tournaments for a medical inspection previous to such contests. The whole of the
work is undertaken by the Association with meticulous care. Your medical
officers, where practicable, attend at these contests, and confirm or correct their
findings in the light of their own personal knowledge of how the boys stand the
strain of these interesting contests.
(d) Facilities for Other Sports and Games.—Much has been done, and very
much more is being done in Barking in this connection, but it still remains for you
to safeguard its future. There can be no doubt that soon all the land adjoining
the Boundary of Barking to the West, North and East will be covered by buildings
in East Ham, Ilford and Dagenham, so that Barking to all intents and purposes
will be hedged in, whereas but a few years ago it had a relatively large acreage of
vegetable gardens and other natural open spaces. With London extending so
distant as Hornchurch, and with the event of the Thameside Development, it
is imperative that young and adolescent persons should have ample accommodation
at home for healthy recreation.
Particularly, I would call attention to the need for open playing grounds at
some distance from the schools themselves, so that exercises may be undertaken
freely with no thought of attendant noise interfering with the ordinary class-work
of the children.