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(9) Open Air Education.
(a) Playground Classes.
Opportunity is taken, weather permitting, of holding classes
in the playgrounds, and physical exercises are taken in the openair
whenever possible.
Some schools hold classes during the warmer months in the
open-air on the flat roofs available, and certain schools hold
classes in the neighbouring parks and recreation grounds.
(b) Open-Air Classrooms.
In three of the most modern schools in the Borough, viz.
Tollgate, Pretoria Road and the re-constructed South Hallsville
School, special provision has been made for open-air classrooms.
(c) School Journeys and Camps.
During the year several Departments undertook School
Journeys to different places for varying periods. The children
were accommodated in Boarding-houses or hostels, while some
went under canvas.
All children before going on a School Journey are examined
by an Assistant School Medical Officer, as to their fitness to
undertake the journey.
Holiday Camps were held during the Summer Vacation for
boys and girls, at Shoeburyness and Isle of Wight respectively.
Here again all selected children were previously medically inspected
and dentally examined, special regard being paid to cleanliness
and freedom from contagion.
This branch of the Education Committee's activities is not
only greatly appreciated by the children who are fortunate enough
to go, but show results, from the medical point of view, which
make one regret that this scheme could not be still further
extended.
The following extracts from the reports of the respective
Camp Superintendents are of interest:—
Mr. Pannell reports—-
The 11th Boys' Holiday Camp was held at the South Shoebury
Hall Farm during the Summer Vacation, this being the
10th Camp in the same field, and it would be difficult to find
another position possessing the same essential and desirable
facilities. Here we have ample supplies of fresh water close at
hand, sea bathing within easy reach, space in plenty for the playing
of games, and a soil with good natural drainage.
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