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(2) Staffing Problems, i.e., the lack of specialist teachers due
to evacuation and the loss of young men to H.M.Forces.
(3) Absence of suitable conditions and equipment for the
development of senior work where senior children now attend prewar
junior schools.
(4) Cessation of visits to playing fields because of the danger
from air raids.
(5) Curtailment of playground space and damage to playground
surfaces owing to their use by Civil Defence Services (much has
now been done to restore the normal peace time facilities).
(6) Difficulties attending the resumption of the accepted prewar
practice of changing into special gymnastic clothing due to
(a) The rising costs of this clothing to parents.
(b) The delay in taking cover, which this practice might involve
in cases where the dressing cannot be carried out in the
school shelters or where children use home shelters (under
present conditions many children do not change into night
clothes and the Association of desirable hygienic habits
with physical exercise is therefore particularly important).
Whilst agreeing that the long hours spent under poor hygienic
conditions combined with the emotional stress caused by air raids
have not resulted in any widespread or dangerous epidemics, or
seriously undermined the health of bur children, our observations
indicate that these conditions are nevertheless adversely affecting
health and physique. Too many children are very pale, they show
obvious signs of fatigue, and their posture and movement lack
vitality. A vigorous daily physical training lesson, taken in the
open air whenever possible, would do much to counteract the ill
effects of long hours spent in a vitiated atmosphere under cramped
conditions with little or no scope for any freedom of movement.
Swimming. The absence of many teachers particularly interested in
and capable of rendering valuable swimming instruction was keenly
felt, but in spite of all difficulties some very good work was done,
and attendance was remarkably good. The Committee's decision not
to cancel the swimming programme was fully justified for nowhere
could more healthy relaxation and joyous carefree effort be seen
than at the swimming bath, where the lessons provide a real
physical and mental tonic. Prevailing conditions made it quite
impossible to organise the usual annual gala and the valuable
stimulus provided by this important function was certainly missed.
The majority of schools conducted at least one series of tests but.
owing to the sudden cancelling of visits early in September the
results obtained were very incomplete and there is no point in
reproducing the usual table of records.

(2) Milk Meals. 486188 milk meals were supplied to children on
medical grounds on the recommendation of the medical staff. The
number of meals supplied during the preceding year was 1,028,595.
19.