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178
would suffice to maintain an adequate supply, and we
hope that the Committee's decision to supply a pair of
gymnastic shoes to all junior school children will be
extended to apply equally to the children in the Senior
and Infants' Schools.
For the more advanced work of the Senior Schools,
we should be satisfied with nothing less than a complete
change of clothing and the provision of showers, but we
consider that under the present difficult conditions the
best practical solution to this important hygienic
problem has generally been found.
The proposed new gymnasia should include adequate
storage accommodation for gymnastic clothing and
facilities for the drying of towels. Many authorities
are already providing this necessary special clothing
and towels, but as far as the boys are concerned, every
effort should be made to encourage self effort on the
part of parents and children before recommending the
Committee to undertake this responsibility. As
regards the girls, whose kit will consist of two garments,
where the boys' consists of single shorts, and will cost
approximately 2s. 6d., it is unlikely that parents who
found difficulty in providing a pair of shoes for physical
training at 1s. 6d. will be able to afford 2s. 6d. for
garments which should be kept solely for use in the
physical training lesson. Unless these garments are
provided by the Committee, it is more than probable
that the present method of merely discarding skirts and
working in the blouses and knickers that are worn
throughout the day will persist. Where showers and
changing accommodation are provided this is most
unsatisfactory, all the hygienic value of showers being
lost where children after showering replace the garments
they have been working in. It is therefore recommended
that special garments for physical training for
the girls should be supplied by the Committee in those