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86
SCHOOL BATHS AND SWIMMING.
Baths are not provided at the Elementary Schools and are not
required so long as the excellent arrangements that have been made
by the Education Committee for children to attend the Public Baths
are in force.
In my last report I referred to a report by the Baths Superintendent
on the continuous Filtration of the Swimming Bath Water.
It is satisfactory to record that the Baths Committee have adopted
a scheme for continuous filtration and that the plant will shortly be
installed. The new arrangement is, I believe, likely to lead to
economy, and it can certainly be recommended on hygienic grounds.
Complaints from parents frequently reach the School Medical
Officer that children develop diseases of various kinds as a result
of attending the Baths. I have never been able to find any justification
for these complaints, but it may help to allay suspicion if one can
say that the most modern methods are adopted to keep the Bath
Water as pure and as clean as possible.
Swimming.—The high standard of instruction that is given in
Swimming and the proficiency attained is again borne out in 1925
by the successes of the School children in open competition; as, for
instance, in the Southern Counties Championships, the Kent County
Championships, and All-London Schools.
The Baths Superintendent states that 205 children attended
"life-saving" classes, and 181 passed examinations at one or more
stages. Five boys and seven girls of the elder scholars at Balgowan
School passed the tests for the Bronze Medallion of the Royal Life
Saving Society. The total number of life-saving awards gained
was 240.
EVENING PLAY CENTRE.
The Play Centre at the Alexandra Schools was open on 35
evenings during the winter months from October to March. The