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109
PHYSICAL TRAINING.
The Authority shares with Middlesex County Council in the
services of a man and woman as joint organisers of Physical Training
for all purposes throughout Enfield and adjacent parts of Middlesex.
A full and well developed programme is operative now, and
much help is being afforded to Juvenile Organisations who have
also been granted use of the Authority's schools and playgrounds
for approved activities at the nominal rate of 1 s. per use.
The development of Physical Training in the schools of the
Authority has reached an advanced standard.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
Meals are provided for necessitous children. They are provided
at the following centres:—
St. Luke's Institute, Enfield.
Feeding Centre, Alma Road, Ponders End.
Bellside Dining Rooms, Enfield Wash.
Dining Rooms, St. Mark's Road, Bush Hill Park.
During the course of 1938 61,571 dinners were provided free
to 479 children. The number of dinners provided in 1937 was
41,954.
The arrangements commenced during 1935 for the provision
of milk to children free, and at ½d. for 1/3 pint, were continued.
During 1938 1,133,705 bottles of milk were provided and paid for,
and 103,898 bottles of milk were provided free to those children
whose circumstances were such that their parents could not afford
to pay. This compares with 982,047 bottles and 88,288 bottles
respectively during 1937. The milk was pasteurised and delivered
in one-third pint bottles, and drunk through a straw. Children
receiving free milk are examined by one of the School Medical
Officers.
CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS.
The percentage of parents who attended with their children
when they were examined at Routine Inspection was 79. At
the School Clinics there are a number of children who come
with messages from their parents. Careful note and attention
is given to these messages, and an attempt made to answer and
deal with them. On the other hand I would suggest that parents
would be well advised to attend with their children rather than
to send them with messages. In the first place messages, if not
in writing, are very often forgotten or distorted by young children,
and in the second place, no opportunity is provided for that personal
contact between school doctor and parents which is most essential.
There are few parents who would send their children to private