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The provision of a day open air school would be of great
benefit to a number of anaemic and debilitated children who
by reason of their health cannot derive proper benefit from
education in an ordinary elementary school. 66 such children
are known to the School Medical Officer.
Four places, two for boys and two for girls, are reserved
by the Education Committee at the Russell Cotes School of
Recovery, Parkstone. During the year, 16 children were
sent to Parkstone, and without exception, their health was
greatly improved.
Physical Training.
No direct control over physical training is exercised by
the School Medical Officer, but Head Teachers refer for
examination any children who appear to them to be unfit to
take part in the games and exercises practised' in the various
schools. The Non-provided Schools are severely handicapped
by the fact that they have no central hall in which
physical training can be carried on during inclement
weather. There is no class for remedial exercises and there
is no organiser of physical training.
Provision of Meals.
No meals are provided by the Education Committee at
any of the elementary schools.
School Baths.
The Council's baths in Squires Lane are available for
the use of the children of all the elementary schools, and
during the year 22,858 attendances were made by 1,513
children.
It is unfortunate that some of the schools are a considerable
distance from the baths, so that a large amount of
the time allotted to swimming is spent in the journey to and
from the baths.
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