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118
Hygiene of Schools.
1 have stressed in my previous reports the importance
of securing for the child a healthy school environment,
for without it the physical welfare of the child is at stake.
We still have a certain number of Church Schools in the
Borough, which, although possessing the virtues attaching
to tradition and antiquity, certainly do not possess entirely
satisfactory hygienic conditions, having regard to their
surroundings, ventilation, lighting, heating equipment,
and sanitation. We must be satisfied that the type and
conditions of desks, sanitary conveniences, lavatories,
playgrounds, washing facilities, drinking fountains, cleanliness
of classrooms and cloakrooms, drying facilities for
clothes and boots, do not fall short of the modern conception
of what constitutes a sound hygienic environment
for imparting a sound modern education. Anything
falling below this standard is to be deprecated as educationally
unsound as well as uneconomic. All things
cannot be done at once, but during the past few years
Bromley has made great progress in the provision of new
schools and the abolition of schools unable to provide the
necessary hygienic environment.
During 1937 progress in replacement of the older type
of school has been made by the opening of the new Hayes
Council School in June, 1937 ; the old Hayes Church School
being closed in the same month ; the Managers of the
Addison Road Church School have decided to close their
school upon the opening of the Southborough Council
School, which it is anticipated will take place in September,
1938. This new school will accommodate 401) mixed
juniors and infants.. The new Hayes Council School has
accommodation for 400 mixed juniors and infants, and a
canteen for the provision of scholars' mid-day meals is
operating on an experimental basis. The canteen is conducted
bv a Canteen Committee, and the scholars are
expected to defray the cost of meals, wages of kitchen staff,
and the electricity consumed. The Education Committee
provided the initial equipment, and will maintain the
equipment up to an agreed cost per annum, and assist in
the payment of electricity accounts if necessary.
At Burnt Ash Council School the lighting arrangements
have been improved throughout the school, and one