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It is of great importance to the well-being of school children
of an abnormal size that suitable adjustable seats and desks should
be provided for them. It is with special pleasure that I note therefore
that we have fifteen special desks in use for school children
suffering from spinal curvature : there is no doubt, however, that
the number of special seats might with advantage be increased.
Hygienic Condition of School Buildings.
The School Medical Officers have inspected the school buildings
throughout the year, and on this occasion it is more
particularly desired to emphasise the need for thorough and efficient
ventilation of the schools. The need for such recommendation
does not exist, of course, in all instances, but it arises at times both
in consequence of the neglect of attention to the existing means of
ventilation on the part of the teaching staff and also in some cases
from too great reliance upon semi-mechanical means of ventilation.
Too great emphasis cannot be laid upon the value of the open
window as a means of replacing used-up air in the class rooms.
It is unquestionably the most efficient and best means of ventilation
available in all cases, and the more nearly the school class room can
be made to approximate open air conditions the better will the
health of teachers and children be. Not at all infrequently on visits
to schools the atmosphere of the class rooms has been found to be
most oppressive upon entering. Such a condition always favours
illness whether it be amongst adults or amongst children. The
importance of a continuance of a supply of absolutely fresh air