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146
ground for access. The conveniences themselves are
generally old, difficult to keep clean and subject to
freezing in cold weather. The only solution, of course,
is to install sanitary conveniences at a point within
the building of a modern standard and sufficient for
the use of the number of students attending the
schools.
Another difficulty in the system appears to be the
delay in carrying out work of renovation after notification
from the Public Health Department. This is
due to financial limitations over which we have no
local control.
The washing facilities available for the schools
are in some cases situated remote from the sanitary
conveniences, a factor which is not conducive to
sound hygienic practice for school children, and in
some cases there is no hot water available for hand
washing.
Insofar as the staff facilities are concerned, in
many instances there is insufficient accommodation
or it has to be shared with other people.
Finally the system of providing drinking water in
open fountains at the schools is somewhat antiquated;
they are placed in open school playgrounds and thereby
subject to freezing and contamination. It would
be far better if a system of drinking water supply
were installed with the washing facilities and other
sanitary conveniences at a point within a building,
thereby permitting strict supervision as to cleanliness,
hygiene, maintenance and making them less
prone to the effects of inclement weather.
Generally speaking in the modern schools, the
sanitary accommodation and conditions are satisfactory
but the older schools should be considered
for complete re-organisation and the system of
maintenance and repair ought to be speeded up to
prevent in some cases serious nuisance and even, so
far as school canteens etc. are concerned, contraventions
of the Food Hygiene Regulations. "