[Report 1955] / School Medical Officer of Health, Birmingham.

  • Birmingham (England). Council.
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / School Medical Officer of Health, Birmingham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    women, helving followed a two oi one year jiart-tinie course and gained the Coniniittce s leadership certificate, continue as leaders of ]ihysical recreation for many years. It is usual to find they attend refresher courses and keep up their own physical skill by attendance as students in classes at the Birmingham Athletic Institute. In December, 1935 a two year.part-time course for women was completed and the new members of the leaders’ panel are already appointed to classes. Facilities 1 he provision of suitable facilities for indoor and outdoor physical education is important. Gymnasia : Eight schools with equipped gymnasia were opened in 1955, bringing the total number of gymnasia under the Education Committee to 80. These gymnasia arc well equipped. The}^ are in full- time use throughout the week by hundreds of day pujiils and many are also used by evening groups. The adjacent changing and shower accommodation enables a practical scheme of health education to be put into effect and good training in healthy habits is given. Playing Fields : In addition to the usual maintenance, improve- ments were carried out at various fields. In spite of the early pioneer work of the Birmingham Education Committee in the matter of playing field development, there is insufficient area within the City to supply the playing field needs of the schools to-day. 1 he post-war lack of transport severely penalises many of the schools near the City Centre where transport to fields is essential. In 1955, the supply of additional ’buses was greatly welcome. The following plan shows the major scheme of terracing, now almost completed, at the Metchley Park Road Playing Idelds, Harborne. Swimming Baths : Instruction in swimming takes place in Corpora- tion swimming baths where the design of the bath and presence of the general public greatly handicaps the work of the teachers and instructor... There are many enthusiastic and able teachers of swimming who raised the standard of swimming in the City in recent years. Their wor ', however, would be greatly eased if the facilities were more suita e the teaching of their large class groups. Apparatus for Physical Education: Suitable apparatus and clothing for the particular branch of physical education engaged upon are necessary adjuncts to the provision of good faaht.es and sound teach- During the year under review some progress has been made on the following lines. ,