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It has been our experience that the regular use of the
Pure Tone Audiometer is a great help in the health supervision
of the children and has now become a regular part
of the work carried out by the School Health Service.
Cleanliness Inspections.
(See Table II).
A feature of the health of schoolchildren in the Borough
for many years has been the exceptionally low rate of infestation
of schoolchildren with vermin. This is now being recognised
by a substantial reduction in the number of school inspections
by Health Visitors for this purpose. Cleanliness inspections
are now carried out in secondary schools only when
they are requested by head teachers. In primary schools
regular cleanliness inspections have been discontinued where,
at three consecutive inspections, no cases of uncleanliness
have been found but further inspections are made if
requested by the head teacher or it appears that special circumstances
warrant an intensification of this work.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
I am indebted to the Physical Education Advisers, Mr
J. Hopkins and Miss J. Hulton for the following report: —
Physical Education in the Borough Schools has continued
to develop during 1957, and on the whole, further
progress towards a good standard of performance and
physical development has been made.
In many Primary Schools the greater understanding of
modern work by the teachers, has resulted in a steady
development of the normal physical education lesson. It is
hoped that, in the future it may be possible to foster a wider
application of similar principles in both games and dancing,
where at present the standard is far more variable. In July,
a class from one School was chosen to give a demonstration
of Educational Dance in the Junior School, at the International
Congress of Physical Education held in London.
This selection was a very great honour for the school.
Physical Education in the Secondary Schools has shown
a gradual improvement in all directions, although in most
schools the limited changing accommodation available and
the lack of facilities for showers after lessons, make the
wider training envisaged in the term "physical education,"
rather more difficult to develop. The provision of suitable
clothing and footwear, especially for games, has been better
than in previous years, but a really good general standard
has still to be reached.
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