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65
(c) County Primary (Infants') Schools. In our Infants'
Schools useful progress towards the recovery of physical training
standards has been noticeable during the year. While in certain
cases it has been necessary to advise teachers against over- *
formality and rigidity in their approach to this work, these
cases have been rare, and development as a whole has been
achieved without loss of fun and enjoyment by the pupils.
The inclusion of Natural Movement Dancing in the general
scheme of Infants' Classes has been a popular and valuable
feature. Where facilities have permitted—a clean, smooth
floor in a hall in which the temperature can be maintained at
a suitable level—children have been encouraged to do this work
barefooted. In the opinion of most experts, this practice is of
considerable value in securing the correct development of the
intrinsic muscles of the foot and thereby reducing the child's
susceptibility to structural foot defects.
Where parents have objected to this practice, it has usually
been possible to convince therrt that not only is it entirely
without risk to the child's health, but actually beneficial both to
its health and physical development.
Organised Games.
Lack of suitable footwear for winter games has been the
chief factor in preventing what would oth«rwise have proved
a highly successful year for the development of organised games
on the Committee's playing fields.
Under present conditions restricting purchase of football and
hockey boots by parents, most children in our County Modern
Schools have had to play these games in unsuitable footwear,
usually of such an inferior quality that, for reasons of health and
out of consideration for parents, it has been necessary to cancel
maany visits to the playing fields on occasions when the grass
has been damp.
It is obvious that until such time as the present restrictions
the manufacture and supply of these articles can be removed,
progress in the development of this important branch of physical
education will continue to be seriously handicapped.
Dancing.
The wider introduction of Modern Dance, i.e., Natural Movemen
Dancing, into the general scheme of Physical Education
in our Modern Girls' Schools is achieving an interesting and
valuable result.