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52
to ensure that no child shall be deprived of the
benefits of exercise from lack of suitable footwear.
This alone has been of immense importance
in preventing what must otherwise have
resulted in a serious diminishing of the subject's
values to the children, for with the increasing
difficulties of staffing and equipment, 'the maintenance
of efficient standards in physical training
in the schools to-day has become a matter
of great concern.
Additional facilities for the accommodation
of this subject have been provided for the pupils
of Burnt Ash School by the renting of the
Rangefield Mission Hall, and for those of the
Parish School by the provision of a small but
useful hall as part of the school's reconstruction
scheme.
The revival of inter-house physical training
competitions in many senior and junior
schools has given a pleasing stimulus to the
work.
(b) Organised Games. Arrangements for regular
weekly visits to playing fields have been continued
throughout the year, the Education Committee
being indebted to the Principal of the
Bishop Otter Training College for the use of the
college ground by pupils of the Parish and St.
Mary's Plaistow Schools. Appreciation is also
due to the Committee's groundsmen who, under
the direction of the Recreation Grounds Superintendent,
have maintained the school playing
fields in good condition under trying difficulties.
(c) Swimming. It is regretted that it has not been
possible to restore our pre-War arrangements
for schools' swimming instruction. Lack of
shelter accommodation and the heavy seasonal
demands of the general public on the use of the
town's open air bath are the immediate causes.
(d) School Clubs. The problem of juvenile delinquency
and the desirability of establishing some
link between the school and youth clubs, have
suggested a need for giving children some
experience of club life while they are still at
school.