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Under an arrangement approved by the Local Education
Authority, teachers with special qualifications in this subject
may now obtain the assistance of part-time pianists additional
to the normal school staff; this policy has done much to enhance
the scope and value of this work and already more than justified
its adoption.
Swimming.
Lack of facilities for the transport of children to and from
the Swimming Bath has made it impossible to restore arrangements
for organised swimming instruction during school hours.
Voluntary evening classes were, however, arranged for a limited
number of older girls at .the Convent Bath, Plaistow Lane. While
the response to this arrangement was generally good, it will be
understood that it has been a very poor substitute for a scheme
which would ensure the teaching of swimming to all children
as part of their general physical education.
The Further Training of Teachers.
A successful Course in Modern Dance for specialist teachers
in County Modern, Grammar and Technical Schools in this area
was held weekly for two terms. Attendances were well maintained,
and arrangements have been made for the extension of
this Course at a later date.
During the Summer Term an Experimental Course in Swimming
Instruction for local teachers was held at the Beckenham
Public Swimming Baths. The aim of the Course, which was continued
for a period of ten weeks, was to assist students towards
a better understanding of the basic swimming strokes and simple
diving, and to acquaint them with up-to-date methods of teaching
and coaching.
With improving conditions of staffing in our schools, it
should soon be possible to restore normal arrangements for
regular training courses in other branches of physical education.
Youth Service.
While every encouragement has been given to local Youth
Organisations in planning and arranging suitable programmes
of physical recreation, it has been disappointing to find so little
permanent return for so much outlay of effort. Assistance has
been given in organising and arranging facilities for a wide
variety of activities, including Recreative Physical Training and
Keep Fit Classes, Gymnastics, Athletics, Ballroom Dancing.
Swimming, Field Games, Tennis and the organisation of Athletic
Sports Meetings and Football and Netball Leagues, etc.