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(20) Continuation Schools.
There are three Continuation Schools in the Be rough: (1)
The Shakespeare Institute; (2) The Livingstone Institute; (3)
The Faraday Institute.
Scholars are not examined at the schools on account of the
practical difficulties, but the Heads of these Institutes are empowered
to refer cases to the School Medical Officer.
(21) Employment of Children and Young Persons.
The employment of school children out of school hours is
subject to certain restrictions governed by Bye-Laws under Section
9 of the Education Act, 1921. These restrictions limit the
age at which a child can commence such work, and the hours of
employment. The child must also be medically examined and a
certificate given that the work will not injure the child's health or
prejudice its education.
The greater part of the work undertaken by children in this
Borough consists of newspaper delivery and other errand rounds
connected with provision stores.
The Bve-Laws under the Education Act, 1921, relating to the
employment of children have been revised and adopted by
the Council. In the main they give greater elastfcity to child employment
without essentially altering the hours of employment or
encroaching on the conditions. Moreover they bring the conditions
more into line with those of the London County Council and
neighbouring Boroughs. During 1931, 164 children were examined
; two certificates were not granted and three temporarily
postponed.
During the same period a certificate of fitness under the Employment
of Children in Entertainments Rules (Sec. 101, Education
Act, 1921), was granted in respect of ten girls.
(22) Special Enquiries.
During the year the Board of Education conducted an investigation
into postural defects among school children in certain
selected areas. West Ham was one of the areas selected and an
investigation was carried out by Dr. Muriel Bvwaters, one ot the
Board's Medical Officers, assisted by Dr. Dorothy Wood.
These Medical Officers visited six schools in this area, and
examined 201 boys and 200 girls of the 12+ age group.
In addition to the actual examination, the Medical Officers
made an investigation into physical training, also the lighting
and ventilation of classrooms, and the type of desks used.
There have been no special enquiries during the year by the
Assistant School Medical Officers, their time being fully occupied
with essential duties.
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