[Report 1934] / School Medical Officer of Health, Salop / Shropshire County Council.

  • Shropshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1934
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1934] / School Medical Officer of Health, Salop / Shropshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/46 (page 29)
    TTT ‘'Playing Fields.—It is to be regretted that there are still some schools without the oppor¬ tunity of playing games on a grass space, In a small number of cases there appears to be no suitable field near, and in other cases no effort appears to have been made by the managers or teachers to procure one. The Organiser will not be satisfied until every child has a chance of playing organised games on a suitable ground. “Playgrounds.—Many of the playgrounds are in a poor state. The surface of some is lamentable. Since there are very few schools with any indoor accommodation for physical training, the standard of work frequently depends on the use of the yard. After rain or frost •some of these are unfit for use. There is a gradual improvement in the surfacing of yards, but progress seems very slow. “Clothing.—There is room for much improvement in the type of dress and footgear worn for physical training lessons and games. From the point of view of personal hygiene and of prac¬ ticability, it is most desirable that children should wear fewer heavy and impeding garments during the physical training lessons. Visits to Schools.—With the expansion of work in all branches it is impossible for the Organiser to pay a satisfactory number of visits to each school. The “ following up ” of work during and after the refresher courses given by the Organiser at the various centres in the County cannot be done as thoroughly as it should be, with only four school days in the week at her disposal. “ Additional Work.—The Organiser is frequently asked to take “ keep fit classes or to give advice as to their organisation in various centres. It is a matter of great regret that this urge on the part of the general public to attain a better standard of physical fitness cannot be catered for, as under existing conditions it has not been possible to comply with these requests, j “Meantime the Board of Education is “ looking for an extension of the Organiser’s work, which should not be limited to school children. There must be a coverage of adolescents. Further, Organisers must be prepared to shoulder greater responsibilities.” ‘ ‘ The Organiser feels that supervision and organising of the physical training classes held at ; Eveninginstitutes is really necessary, and that it is essential that provision should be made for ) exercises and games at any Junior Instructional Centre which may be instituted. “At the Conference of the National Association of Organisers of Physical Training on March l! 1st, 1935, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education said:—” ‘ I .should like to know ) that every boy and girl from the age of five to at least 18 ... . had not less than three periods t a week of physical training. Then I believe that we should be building up a race with a physique and stamina second to none in the world.’ ‘ Education has too often been confused with book learning .... in training a child’s mind people forgot that he also had a body.’” K. W. Davey, Organiser of Physical Training. CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICERS AND VOLUNTARY BODIES. ij Parents.—notice is sent to all parents inviting their presence at the routine medical and dental inspections, and a special effort is always made to get the parents of seriously defective -children to attend. Teachers.—In addition to the help which the teachers give at ordinary school medical r. inspections, the assistance which they render during the inter-inspection periods in bringing their :j'. influence to bear on the parents to secure the treatment which has been advised is very great. 1] This is especially so in the matter of dental treatment, and the effect of a change of head teacher ■ < is often very markedly reflected in the number of children whose parents consent to treatment. 'I