[Report 1938] / Medical Officer of Health, West Lancashire R.D.C.
- West Lancashire (England). Rural District Council.
- Date:
- 1938
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1938] / Medical Officer of Health, West Lancashire R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Cloakroom accommodation at Rufford C.E. School is inadequate. During wet weather there is no possible chance of wet clothing becoming dry : consequently children must put on damp clothes. This must necessarily contribute to the many absences through coughs and colds. At Netherton R.C. School several improvements were carried out during the year, notably The enlargement and improvement of cloak¬ rooms, widening of the playground and building of a new boundarv wall. The children continue to take advantage of the milk scheme, and their general health has been good. At Sefton Council School the playgrounds need re-surfacing. PLAYGROUNDS. “ The National system of education,” said the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of Education,”has to provide proper school accommodation, playgrounds, playing helds. . . But it has also to ensure that the body is trained to proper condition through physical exercises, gymnastics, organised games, athletics, swimming and dancing, just as the mind is trained to its full powers through mental exercise.” Much remains to be done before all elementary schools have satis¬ factory ])laygrounds, playing fields, gymnasia, shower baths and dressing and drying-rooms. Of the 27 Public Elementary Schools in the district, playgrounds needs re-surfacing in no less than eighteen, wliilst many are too small to be adequate for organised games. The eighteen are all non-])rovided schools. Shortage of funds is at the root of the matter. All these schools are very old, and availabU' monies are absorbed in repairs and renovations. Recreation, nevertheless, is of paramount importance ; health being of even greater value than education. Every effort should be made at least to see that children sit in school with dry feet. THE CENTRAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. Since the last Report a new Central School (described in the foregoing Images) has been opened at Maghull. The Tarleton Council, Halsall ('.E. and Maghull C.E. Central Schools accommodate children of 11 years and over who have received their Primary education in the Junior sections of those and neighbouring schools. The cost of conveyance ()f senior children to the schools has been defrayed by the Countv lulucation Authorities, and in some cases also, very satisfactory facilitic*s are jn'ovided for mid-day meals to l)e tak(‘n on tlu' School premises.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30261648_0072.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)


