View report page

70
The external and internal walls and partitions are constructed of 4 in.
by 2 in. stud framing carried on brick piers, covered externally with an insulating
board ½ in. thick, metal lathed, rendered in two coats and decorated
with a waterproof paint. Internally all walls are pine panelled up to 4 ft.
high to school rooms and 7 ft. high to staff rooms, above same and to ceilings
3/8 in. plaster or ½ in. insulating board is used. The flooring is hardwood
strip laid on a ½ in. insulating board.
Drinking fountains push valve operated with jet delivery are used
throughout both inside school building and in the playgrounds, thus avoiding
the necessity of many children using the same receptacle.
Gardens and shrubberies are laid out around the playgrounds and in the
central court the latter being tended by the children and the whole effect is
very pleasing.
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
The scheme of inspection adopted in previous years has continued,
each child being examined three times during his school life at routine medical
examinations, at his entrance, at about the age of 8 years, and again
about the age of 12 years.
These routine inspections are carried out in the schools and in the more
recently erected schools special accommodation is provided for this purpose.
To examine the numbers necessary during the year without hurry, it
is essential that the arrangements should run smoothly and without the willing
co-operation of the teachers this would be impossible and I should like
to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of their assistance.
In addition many children were referred by the Health Visitors,
Teachers, or parents for special examination because of some suspected or
actual defect. These examinations are carried out at the various health
centres. Altogether 4,921 routine examinations were made and 5,419 special
inspections, in addition 3,550 re-inspections were made.
FINDINGS OF MEDICAL INSPECTION.
The children generally were found to be in good health and while the
following paragraphs may tend to create an impression of there being a
large number of children with departures from the normal standard of
health, there must be kept in view the number of children examined and the
total numbers on the school roll :—
(A) MALNUTRITION.—
A careful search has been made for all children suspected of being mal
nourished, school teachers, attendance officers and health visitors being in-