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Similarly, they all have playing sheds—some of these are suitable and
nice—others are not so nice and, owing to the proximity of urinal or
offices, are not suitable for open-air classes as suggested.
The majority of the schools have receptacles on wheels for refuse;
they are not all perfect. The smaller schools have a sanitary dust-bin.
As regards door mats, the schools are well supplied—a sunk metal mat
or grating, with one or more fibre mats.
The non provided schools, as previously stated, have no central halls.
There are three of these, with an accommodation of nearly 1,500. St.
Mary's Infants has a loose stone playground which requires asphalting,
and the Girls have a similar one, but not adjoining the school.
St. Saviour's Boys and St. Mary's Girls have each one large room for
three classes; in the former, not even curtains between. The forms in
the latter are still the long old-fashioned ones with no back.
There are no private rooms in either of the three departments of St.
Saviour's School, nor in St. Mary's Girls.
During the year ending March, 1920, £8,504 have been spent on
repairs and improvements, etc.
4. MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Description of arrangements made and methods
adopted for the Medical Inspection of the Children.
About a week prior to Medical Inspection, the Head is informed of
the date and the age group which it is proposed to inspect and is
requested to give the approximate number of children coming within
that age group. Blank medical cards and a book of forms are sent on.
The forms invite the parent to be present at the medical examination,
giving the date and hour; the parent is asked to mark on the back
any disease or illness that the child may have had, in case she is not
able to be present. The Head Teacher is responsible for filling in
the medical cards and the invitations to the parent: the latter are sent
on the day previous to the examination. The number of the children
arranged for is 25 in the morning and 20 in the afternoon.
The District is divided into two areas, with practically the same
number of children in each: each Assistant School Medical Officer is
responsible for the examination of the children in an area. Three-anda-half
days each week are devoted to routine inspection and re-inspection
at the Schools, the remaining two days being occupied with the Clinic
and Child Welfare Centre.
A School Nurse is present at every inspection; her duties are, mainly,
to take the height and weight of the child, to test the vision, to write
out after-care cards for those children who have defects and, in the case
of those whose parents are not present, to send a notice of the defect
found home by the child. These defect notices are printed cards and