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It is a good sign to see schools not only developing stat
teams, but also, making it possible for the ordinary boy or
girl to play a properly organised game after school in or
school colours. Thus third, fourth and fifth string team are
turned out so that no longer is it true to say that only the
gifted boy or girl gets recognition. This added enthuiasm
brings added wear to the schools' playing fields, and ground
staffs are to be complimented on the way they make it possiblc
for play to continue almost unceasingly throughout the
academic year.
The Borough still lacks a heated swimming indoor bath
which would enable swimming to continue all the year round
If the evidence of the two Junior Schools that have installed
their own teaching pools is considered, there will be a great
pressure for swimming facilities, which should be rewarded.
Last year East Wickham only 3 of the 80 leavers at
11 plus could not swim and at Fosters, where a pool
functioned for the first time some 85% of the top class
learned to swim. It is interesting to compare this with the
national average of a once a week, ten week course in swimming
which results in 30% learning to swim. Learnei pools
are undoubtedly the answer to the problem of making every
child a swimmer. Swimming is important to the blind and
the spastic, and is perhaps the best 'family' sport of them
all. Time and money spent on its furtherance is worth while
and the two schools concerned with implementing their swim
ming programme are to be congratulated on their result.
This year opportunities have been provided for teachers
to attend courses of instruction in Swimming. Life Saving.
Dancing, Basketball, Rebound Tumbling. Canoeing and
Olympic Gymnastics. These courses were well attended, and
the teachers enthusiasms are reflected in an ever rising
standard of performances in games and sports.
There is a growing interest in the Duke of Edinburgh
Award scheme in several secondary schools.
This idea canalises the best desires of the young. They
learn to face danger, endure some hardships, work at some
skill until they are found worthy, and finally learn to serve
their fellows in some capacity, so that they achieve strength
and temper it with feelings of compassion. The guiding of
the boys and girls through this rather complex series of skills.
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