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28
Weight and Height.—During the first half-year
76% of the scholars showed increased weight while 8%
lost weight and 16% remained stationary. In the second
half-year every child recorded an increase in weight,
while throughout the year the scholars showed advances
in height. This is very satisfactory.
Washing Accommodation.—In my half-yearly Report
to the Open-Air School Sub-Committee in July, 1931,
appeared the following remarks:—
"The Register numbers 33 boys and '27 girls, but
only 2 wash basins apiece are provided in the cloakrooms.
I submit that in a school where a considerable portion
of the staff's time is occupied in teaching the principles
of health and cleanliness these are inadequate. The
County School Medical Officer comments on the same
in his Annual Report for 1930, and suggests that they
should be augmented."
These remarks, with little modification, still apply,
and I hope that the matter will receive early attention.
General.—The value of the School to this district
is unquestionable. Many expressions of gratitude have
been received from parents, who shew a pleasing cooperation
with the medical and teaching staffs. Parents
of children discharged from the school receive a letter
setting out the health routine thereof, and explaining
how it could be continued at home, emphasis beingplaced
upon the need for its regular observance. Cases
of malnutrition coming from homes where unemployment
and poverty exist are frequent, and the improvement
wrought in the children's health by a course of
open-air instruction is very satisfactory.
In a school where no two children may be suffering
from the same condition knowledge of the domestic
circumstances, &c., is very useful, and owing to the keen
interest displayed by the teaching staff in each individual
scholar, this is usually available. Credit is due
to them for their help in this direction.