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56
Physical Education in Elementary Schools
(a) Physical Exercises. The fact that every normal child
finds enjoyment in the P.T. lesson has been an important
factor in preventing what would otherwise have
been a much more serious decline in the standard of
this work. Whilst it is obvious that much detail and
precision has been lost, and that the posture and carriage
of the children seems to have suffered, the recreative
values of the work have been well maintained, and, in
consequence, the daily P.T. lesson has done much to
counteract those influences which have tended to depress
the spirits of the children during the dangerous and
difficult period.
(b) Organised Games. Regular visits to the Education
Committee's playing fields were possible only during
the Spring and early part of the Summer terms, after
which period all arrangements were cancelled owing to
the general disturbance of war conditions.
(c) Children's Holiday Games Centre. Owing to the outstanding
success of the experiment sponsored by the
" Holidays at Home" Committee, under which school
children of all ages were offered facilities for games and
recreation under expert leadership during school holidays,
it was decided to repeat these arrangements during
1944. Two Games Centres were opened during the
period 30th May—9th June, and the following attendant
returns are sufficient to indicate that the scheme has
again proved highly successful:—
Average Total
Centre. Daily Attendance. Attendance.
1. Hayes School P. Fld 132 1123
2. Southborough School P. Fld 168 1513
(d) Swimming. It is greatly to be deplored that the vast
majority of the children in this Borough roach school
leaving age without having been taught to swim. Until
such time as facilities for instruction in a closed and
heated swimming bath are made available to the
children, this important branch of physical education
must continue to be neglected.
Clothing for Games and Physical Training.
The Education Committee have continued to take advantag
of the Board of Trade arrangements under which supplies of
plimsols for games and P.T. can be purchased for the use of
schools.