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147
It is not sufficient to provide houses with baths; it is also
. necessary to bring up a generation to whom bathing is a natural
habit. The development of this natural habit is an essential part
of education and should form part of every sound educational
scheme.
The old joke of the bath at home being used as a coal cellar
is played out, but the reality that lies behind this sordid joke,
though by no means so true as it used to be, is still true, and whilst
children who ought to have a bath are allowed in school without
having a bath, the necessity for bathing will never be realised.
Once more I want to say that the skin is an organ of the body
as much as the liver, and if it is not kept active it gets sluggish and
will not carry out its functions.
Bathing not only removes dirt and allows the skin to function,
but stimulates it to function—not only the bathing, but the friction
of drying with the towel and the exposure of the body to the
atmosphere.
There are public swimming baths at East Street. These belong
to the Council. Children attending elementary schools are instructed
in swimming at these baths, and here is a healthy exercise which
should be encouraged.
The provision of a public swimming pool in the park should
do a lot, not only towards promoting cleanliness, but towards
getting people into the habit of stimulating themselves by bathing.
I do hope that the day is not far distant when there will not be
one boy or girl in Barking who is not able to swim.
(14), (15), (16) and (17) CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS,
TEACHERS, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICERS AND
VOLUNTARY BODIES.
We are fortunately able to continue to express our appreciation
of the interest that parents take in routine medical inspection; no