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9. OPEN-AIR EDUCATION.
In spite of the fact that there is a large number of children in this
Borough suffering from early tuberculosis, debilitating conditions,
catarrhal .nfections of the lungs, mal-nourishment, etc., no open-air
education of any description has yet been provided. The simplest
and the least costly form of open-air education is the open-air class,
and there are many schools in Croydon with playground area sufficient
to permit of the establishment of such classes.
The Borough is well provided with recreation grounds and it
should not be difficult to utilise these open-air spaces to provide outdoor
education for selected children.
10. PHYSICAL TRAINING.
Below is given the report of the Organizer of Physical Training,
to which the attention of the Committee is particularly directed.
To the Education Committee. March, 1921.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to submit the report of my work as Organizer of Physical
Training for the year 1920.
The work in the Elementary Schools has been encouraging in
spite of many difficulties. Physical training has been carried on in
accordance with the revised "Syllabus of Physical Training 1919,"
and "Syllabus of Physical Exercises for Children under seven
years of age," issued by the Board of Fducation early in 1920
As mentioned in my report of 1919, I had been preparing the
way for the introduction of these two books by Courses (four in all) for
both Senior and Infants' Teachers in the Autumn of 1919 and the
Spring of 1920, so that as soon as copies of this Syllabus were available
we were able to introduce it into the schools at once.
On March 19th I arranged a Demonstration to which the Head
Teachers of all departments were invited. Typical lessons were conducted
with classes of Infants, Standards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and 6 and 7,
and the same children also demonstrated suitable dances. This
Demonstration, which was attended by practically every Head Teacher,
as well as one of His Majesty's Inspectors, one member of the.
Education Committee and the Medical Officer of Health, was followed
by a Conference in the afternoon as to the most effective methods of
making the new Syllabus of real value in the schools. Several
resolutions, arising out of consideration of the Board of Education
Circular 1138, issued with the Syllabus, were passed and were submitted
to the Education Committee in due course.
At the request of the Head Teachers this Demonstration was
repeated for the Class Teachers on two evenings. At least 400
attended these two demonstrations—a proof, I think, of the enthusiasm
and earnest desire of the teachers to promote the physical welfare of
the children in their care,