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15
Civil Defence Services, we were pleased to have obtained the
Committee's permission to organise and conduct a short course
of training for intending instructors of Physical Training in
the Erith A.R.P. Services.
Our offer to do this work was much appreciated by the
local A.R.P. Officer, who has since informed us that as the
result of our voluntary efforts, regular instruction in Physical
Training is now being given to many of the local A.R.P.
personnel.
Conclusion.
In the difficult times which lie ahead, the educational ideal
of a "sound body and a sound mind" will have a new and
important significance. Education must adapt itself to the
principle that its prime function in time of war is to protect
the child from an environment which tends to undermine his
spirit and confuse his emotions. A well-trained body under the
control of a strong, courageous will, now becomes a far more
important educational objective than ever before, and we would
invite those who, in the past may have regarded Physical
Education as a subject outside the true educational conception,
to reconsider its values in this new light.
We would acknowledge, with gratitude, our thanks and
appreciation of the continued support of the Education Committee
and its Officers and for the friendliness and co-operation
of the teaching staff. The fact that, harassed as all have been
by the events of the past year, we have always received a ready
welcome in all the Committee's schools, has helped us considerably
in our work."
Blind, Deaf and Epileptic Children.
One child comes within the blind children group this year.
This child lost her sight following cerebro spinal meningitis.
There are no deaf children in our area.
No epileptic children came under our notice during 1939.
Nursery Schools.
There are no nursery schools provided by the Erith
Education Authority but as has previously been noted, Nursery
Classrooms are provided in four of the Infant Schools.
Mentally Defective Children.
The following is taken from the Annual Report of the
Local Organiser of the Kent Voluntary Association for Mental
Welfare .