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Cleanliness Inspections.
(See Table III).
During the year the School Nurses carried out 9,466
examinations of children in School and 45 were found to
have some infestation with vermin. In nearly all cases, the
condition was cleared up by parents who were assisted,
where necessary, by the School Nurses. The infestation rate
is commendably low and speaks well for the standard of
child care in the Borough.
Physical Education.
The review of Physical Education for the years 1951
and 1952 made special mention of the general acceptance
of child-centred work, individual rates of progress and
informal methods of teaching. These features, which are
found to promote most effectively the physical development,
self assurance and self discipline of the child, have been
emphasised in the recent editions of Physical Education in
the Primary School, Parts 1 and 11, published by the
Ministry of Education.
The practical guidance offered to teachers in Part 11
" Planning the Programmehas provided a welcome
stimulus to physical activities in the Primary Schools
and has continued the opportunity and increased the scope
of the work in the daily lesson. The strong work now so
evident at the Primary level is desirable and should be
continued in the Secondary Schools. It is hoped to establish
during the coming year a closer link between the work of the
upper Primary and the lower Secondary School classes.
The development of Modem Dance in the Girls'
Secondary Schools has continued as it is felt that this type
of work can provide an effective groundwork for movement
in most branches of physical education for girls. In the
Boys' Secondary Schools, the demand for more objective
training techniques has again involved a prominence to
games practices and sports and the developmental value of
indoor gymnastic work has received due recognition.
The support of parents in the provisions of Physical
Education clothing and footwear has, on the whole, been
praiseworthy. Some need remains, however, to reiterate that
the vigorous nature of indoor and outdoor physical activities
demands special clothing for the sake of the child's hygiene,
freedom of movement and safety. It is hoped that during
the coming year more adequate provision will be possible
to alleviate this difficulty.
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