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57
St. Andrew's.
Chase Side.
George Spicer Central.
George Spicer Junior.
S. Mark's.
S. Matthew's.
Alma Road.
We are assuming that the children attending S. Andrew's,
Chase Side, and George Spicer schools come from wealthier homes
than those attending St. Mark's, S. Matthew's and Alma Road.
In the first four schools 549 children were examined, and in the
second three schools 332 children were examined. Of the 549
children examined at S. Andrew's, Chase Side, George Spicer
Central, and George Spicer Jnr., and Infts.' about 50 per cent.
of the children were found to be below par; whilst of the 332 children
examined at S. Mark's, S. Matthew's, and Alma Road this figure
was about 25 per cent. In short we found the children in the
wealthier schools less healthy. We admit, without hesitation,
that our methods were unscientific, but they nevertheless represent
our joint opinion that the children selected were below
the standard which may be reasonably expected of healthy children.
We failed to see a sufficient number bright-eyed, rosy cheeked, and
sturdily built. We would like to be able to give you reasons for the
tiredness and pallor of so many of our school children, for whilst we
would make it clear that we do not consider the Enfield children unhealthier
than those in corresponding districts, we nevertheless would
like to see an improvement in their condition. Our general
impression is that parents do not realise that elementary school life
provides a child with sufficient to occupy its mind. Many parents
seem to think it necessary to augment their children's scope of
thought by taking them or allowing them to go too frequently to
cinematograph performances. Apart from the fact that the
atmosphere of a cinematograph cannot replace the atmosphere of
our parks, there lies the fact that the average film causes a child
to attempt to unravel psychological problems that are beyond its
understanding and can only worry it. School children should spend
more of their leisure in the open spaces of the district playing at
healthy exercises, and this is far better than motoring, sometimes
till late hours at night. It is rather interesting to note that 21
per cent. of the children examined at S. Andrew's School, 16 per
cent. of those at Chase Side, and 22 per cent. of those at George
Spicer Jnr. and Infts. came from homes where parents possessed
motor cars.
We are convinced that Enfield children go to bed far too late at
night. Summer time and the exceptional weather that the country