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12. OPEN AIR BOARDING SCHOOL EDUCATION
During the past year 4 boys were medically examined prior
to returning at each term, to Elmbridge Boys' School, Cranleigh,
Surrey, and a further 16 boys and girls received examinations before
proceeding to Kennylands Park School, Reading, Berks, for the
Spring, Summer and Autumn terms
Premises at the Jubilee Retreat have again been used by parties
from most of the Special Schools.
13. PHYSICAL TRAINING
The Committee shares the services of two whole-time Organisers
with a neighbouring area. Co-operation has continued along
the lines of previous years.
Disinfection of Gym Shoes.—Disinfection is carried out before
shoes are used by another child. Shoes were left in contact for 60
minutes with formaldehyde vapour in the chamber of a steam disinfector,
sufficient steam being admitted to produce a slightly humid
atmosphere.
Swimming.—The following has been contributed by Mr. L. E.
Last, Organiser of Physical Education.
School Classes.—During 1953 a total of 51,339 attendances was
recorded at the High Street Baths for swimming classes, representing
an increase of 2,073 on the figure for 1952. At the beginning of
the Autumn term, with the large influx of beginners from the Junior
Schools, approximately 25 per cent. only of the children who
attended the bath were able to swim, but owing to the successful
modern methods adopted by the instructor, Mr. A. Smith, and
valuable help of the visiting teachers, whereby children received
instruction in the fundamentals of all the major swimming strokes
instead of concentrating solely upon the teaching of the breast
stroke, a large number of non-swimmers gained their first certificate
(25 yards) very quickly and many found it easier to use some form
of the back stroke rather than the breast stroke or front crawl.
Full use has been made of the S.W. Essex Technical College
bath during normal school hours by the S.W. Essex Technical
School, the Sir George Monoux Grammar School and the Walthamstow
County High School, and by voluntary classes from the first
two of these schools on Saturday mornings. Particular mention
must be made of the highly successful work of the Sir George
Monoux School. As the result of a well organised four-year plan
over 90 per cent. of the boys at this school can now swim—a very
fine record which very few schools in the country can even approach.