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13
"It speaks well for the teaching staff and the popularity of the school
that in every case discharged to elementary school the parents have either
sought an interview or written to request that the children might be retained.
"I must add a word of appreciation for the co.operation and interest of
the head.mistress, Miss O'Brien, and the assistant mistress, Miss Jacka.
The school has also been greatly helped by the untiring efforts of Mrs. Tritton
who, for many years has undertaken the home visiting, financial assessments
and following.up for the School Care Committee.
"The atmosphere of the school is at all times a most happy one.
"The activities of the children have been extended during the year with
regular swimming classes, manual work for the boys and needlework for the
girls. The swimming has continued popular through the winter and unless
there is otitis media, chronic rhinitis, a cutaneous tuberculide or non.arrested
pulmonary disease, I have encouraged the children over nine years of age to
take part.
"With reference to the Annual School Sports in which the children competed,
there was some disappointment because they were not permitted to
enter for the jumping contests. I can see no medical grounds for such a
veto.
"There are as yet no data of value regarding the school breakfasts, of
which all the children partake. When they were introduced the parents were
circularised, explaining the object of the breakfasts and asking them to continue
the usual morning meal before the children left home. I believe this is done in
nearly all cases, so that the breakfast is in fact an addition to the daily diet.
"It is difficult with the sum available to provide proteins and fats except
as a rare treat, so that the meal is mainly a carbohydrate one. When the
effect of the breakfasts is reviewed, the absence of proteins should be taken
into consideration.
"I suggest that Geere House, where all the children are receiving breakfasts
and which serves a very poor area, might be selected for an experiment
in which the children could be provided with a high protein meal.
"It is observed in nearly all cases that the rate of growth of the younger
children is much less than that of children over eleven years of age. With the
average age reduced during the year, there will be many weight charts showing
relatively disappointing results. So far as Geere House is concerned the
Medical Officer must be blamed, for the policy of admitting young contacts
and discharging the older children, rather than condemn the breakfasts as of
no value.
"I consider the reason for this slow development in the young children is
due in some part to the overcrowded conditions in the houses of the East End.
There is no separate room in which the children can be put to bed early and
remain undisturbed. More improvement in general physical condition and
rate of growth is obtained by giving these children additional rest periods at
school. For that purpose there is unfortunately no secluded corner available
at Geere House.
"The school time.table is a full one and it is difficult to provide a daily
drill period. A number of minor postural defects might be corrected by class
exercises. Occasionally children who have had a pleural effusion tend to
develop a scoliosis for which exercises would be beneficial.