View report page

Spectacles. Parents claiming assistance in respect of the
supply of spectacles to children attend the School Attendance
Department and state particulars of their income. Upon this
information, an order is given to the optician to the Education
Committee to supply the spectacles at contract price, the parents
contributing according to their means.
The sum of £24. 2s. 2d. was contributed by the Council in
connection with these necessitous cases.
XIX. MISCELLANEOUS.
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 be medically examined and a certificate given that
the work will not injure the child's health or prejudice his 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 Bye-laws under the Education Act, 1921, relating to
the employment of children have been recently revised and adopted
by the Council. In the main they give greater elasticity to child
employment without essentially altering the hours of employment
or encroaching on the conditions. Moreover they
bring these conditions more into line with those of the London
County Council and neighbouring boroughs. During 1937, the
number of children examined was 244.
During the same period certificates of fitness under the
Employment of Children in Entertainments Rules (section 101,
Education Act, 1921), were granted in respect of 55 girls and one
boy.
Juvenile Instruction Centre. In accordance with the