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64
"The senior boys spend one afternoon per week at the Wm.
McGuffie Woodwork Centre, and the girls of 12 or over attend
cookery classes.
"A new garden has been made in the playground. The children
are keenly interested.
"We were sorry to lose Miss Hicks in July after four years at
this school. Miss E. M. Johnson was appointed assistant teacher
in October."
(iii) Open Air School.— Miss Thompson, the Head Teacher,
reports as follows:—
"The Open Air School has now been open two full years and
results are becoming more apparent.
"Pour classrooms, accommodating 30 children each, are
reserved for those requiring open air treatment, though some 12
orthopaedic infant cases are also grouped in the room for the
smallest infants. One room is set aside for manual training and
one is reserved for the older orthopaedic and cardiac cases.
"During the year, weekly medical inspections have been maintained,
and once a month prospective candidates for admission
attend for examination. Two dental inspections have been held
and in November the Senior Dental Surgeon remarked on the much
improved state of the children's teeth.
"The feeding of the school children is now regulated and
inspected by a member of the Education Committee and the
dietitian. The school staff weigh the children once a month and
the results are showing an almost steady gain of approximately
1½lbs. average, except where there are losses due to minor ailments,
new admissions, etc.
"Miss Hawkes, Organiser of Physical Training in the district,
has advised us specially on the work suitable for debilitated children
and has commended the management of this important subject for
the school.
"Favourable comment has been made on the Art work. This
subject has a beneficial influence on children whose vitality is not
necessarily high, by giving them opportunities for creative expression
and occupation.
"The Orthopaedic Section continues working on the lines of
an ordinary elementary school. The needlework of the girls is of
a high standard and enables most of them to enter the trade as
wage earners immediately on leaving school. The cripple boys are
usually sent to a training school.