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24
"The implication of this quotation from the Board of Education
Circular of October, 1936, is that special clothing and shoes are
necessary for post-primary children whose Physical Training involves
work of a strenuous character, and we are pleased to report further
improvement in the efforts made to provide these children with
suitable clothes.
"Playing Fields.—In our first annual report for 1936 we
urged that our aim should be to provide all post-primary children,
and children in their last year in Junior Schools, with the opportunity
of enjoying a weekly games period on a playing field. Last
year, owing to the extensive improvements carried out at Salisbury
Hall and the hiring of the Walthamstow Cricket and Lawn Tennis
Club ground, this ideal was realised, or rather provision was made
for the attendance of these children on the playing fields time-table.
The chief factor militating against regular attendance is, in most
cases, the distance of the playing field from the school.
"Whilst good use is made of the playing fields from May to
October, for the remaining winter months we estimate that, in the
case of the boys, less than 50 per cent., and in the case of the girls
less than 25 per cent., of the time allocated is actually spent on
the fields. The drainage of clayey soils is admittedly difficult, and
the principal cause of this limited use of the fields during the winter
months is undoubtedly the muddy condition of the ground.
"The generous co-operation of the Parks Committee enabled
the privilege of using tennis courts at Lloyd Park and Low Hall
Farm to be extended to Senior as well as the Central Girls' Schools.
"Teachers' Classes.—Reference has already been made to
the difficulty of organising the usual classes during the past year.
Two women and one man were generously granted leave of absence
to attend special Advanced Three-months' Courses in order to
qualify for teaching in fully-equipped gymnasia. Other enthusiastic
teachers attended courses held in London by the Central
Council for Recreative Physical Training, and summer holiday
courses at Scarborough.
"Swimming.—The transference of the swimming instruction
of the Monoux School to the South-West Essex Technical College
placed a further 700 places at the disposal of Walthamstow children,
raising the total from 1,200 to 1.900 possible visits per week.
"Whilst there are over 5.000 children in the post-primary
schools alone (excluding medical cases) who should receive regular
swimming instruction, there should be no difficulty about filling
1,900 places. For years past the limited accommodation has