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As usual in cases of Diphtheria, all home contacts have been swabbed, and in cases where
it was thought that the infection might be in the school, all school contacts have also been
examined.
The campaign in regard to immunisation against Diphtheria has been continued during the
year, and a full report of this work will appear in my Annual Report as Medical Officer of Health.
9—OPEN-AIR EDUCATION.
(a). Playground Classes.
These are arranged in most of the schools. All the newer schools have fields on the site
which are fully used during the summer for teaching purposes.
(b). Open-Air Classrooms in Public Elementary Schools.
The newer schools e.g., Heston Junior, Marlborough and Cranford have almost completely
open-air classrooms.
(c). School Journeys and Camps.
School Journeys :—These are encouraged by the Committee and take place for Senior
Schools between Easter and October. Parties consist of 30-40 children, usually of the same age
group. The Committee pay 10s. 0d., per head, or 50% of the cost per child, plus travelling and
maintenance charges of the teachers.
During the year the following journeys were made:—
1 party of 30 girls—Bulstrode Senior Girls' School. To Ryde, Isle of Wight.
1 party of 40 girls—Marlborough Senior Mixed School. To Nutbourne Holiday Camp,
Hambrook, Chichester.
1 party of 40 boys—Marlborough Senior Mixed School. To Nutbourne Holiday Camp,
Hambrook, Chichester.
School Camps :—A camp site at Ham Island, near Windsor has been used by the Hounslow
Heath Senior School for a School Camp—held in term time and under the conditions applying
to school journeys.
10.—PHYSICAL TRAINING.
There is no area organiser of Physical Training but the question of the appointment of
organisers has been carefully considered recently. In each Senior School a fully qualified
Physical Training specialist has been appointed and suitable apparatus has been provided. A
new gymnasium with showers and changing rooms is in course of construction at Spring Grove
Central School and the Hall at Marlborough Senior School has recently been equipped with
wall bars, ropes, etc.
11.—PROVISION OF MEALS.
Dinners.
Selection of Children.—Children are selected on application to the Head Teacher or on
notification by the School Medical Officer. The Head Teacher is authorised to grant two tickets
and the case is then referred for assessment.
Approval of Dietaries.—Meals are provided in five cafes and are subject to periodic
inspection by the School Medical Officer's staff. Specimen menus are provided to caterers for
their guidance. The full cost of the meals is 7d. per day. Dinners only are provided, and the
scheme has recently been extended to holidays.
One is up against the constant difficulty that the caterers have with regard to the number
of children who will not eat greens. Part of this, in the poorer families, is due to the fact that
greens mean extra cooking and extra work and it is not sufficiently realised by the parents that
they are doing the children harm, from the nutrition point of view, by depriving them of green
foods.
I find that the children who have school dinners have been leaving the greens on their
plates, and I have given orders that unless they consume the amount of greens which are given
as their portion, they will be deprived of their pudding.
By degrees these children are being educated up and one is finding that they are consuming
their greenstuff apparently with relish.
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