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268
SYNOPSIS OF HYGIENE TEACHING IN PUBLIC
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN CROYDON.
The teaching of Hygiene is laid down by the Board of
Education as a part of the instruction in all elementary schools.
The teaching is generally divided into two kinds. Children below
the age of 11 years receive informal instruction on the subject
such as friendly talks about the matters with which Hygiene
deals. For older children the lessons are more definite and in the
majority of schools a special time is set apart for a lesson on this
subject. The time devoted to this for older children varies from
30 to 45 minutes a week. In the younger children the time spent
in the informal talks would amount to about 20 minutes a week.
Hygiene does not always appear in the records of the school as
a separate subject, but is sometimes included under the head of
Science. This latter method is unfortunate as it may result in
its importance being lost sight of, but since the issue of the Board
of Education's Handbook, "Suggestions for the teaching of
Hygiene," more schools are giving the subject a distinct place
in the instruction.
All schools have a written syllabus which embodies the actual
principles and subject matter to be taught; the actual syllabus
varies as between school and school. The responsibility for the
teaching is not confined to the Head Teacher, as each class
teacher is responsible for the proper inculcation of good habits in
the children under his or her immediate care.
The majority of children attending elementary schools
depend in after life far more on their physical fitness for their
livelihood than on their mental agility, yet they are trained rather
in the latter than how to maintain the former. If the average
citizen loses has health he loses also his means of sustenance.
When once sound habits of physical culture and of the maintenance
of health have been assimilated and are being practised,
then a child is ready to receive the fuller education which leads
outside the humdrum of existence. The ultimate test of mans
domination is a physical one.
The following report was presented to the Elementary Education
Sub-Committee during the year, and serves to summarise the
arguments in favour of an extension of the arrangements for the
teaching of Hygiene in the Public Elementary Schools. The