[Report 1936] / School Medical Officer of Health, West Bromwich.

  • West Bromwich (England). Council.
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1936] / School Medical Officer of Health, West Bromwich. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/48 (page 22)
    X.—PHYSICAL TRAINING. (Report of the Physical Training Organisers). “ The year 1936 will be remembered as the year during which Physical Education made more real advance than in smy previous one. There is to-day a general desire to be fit and keep fit. Many agencies are directing their efiorts towards achieving this most desirable state of healthy living. The child welfare and maternity centres, nursery classes, the milk scheme and the feeding of school children are all parts of a comprehensive scheme to give our young people a real chance of a healthy life. The true physical educator has not desired to impose a scheme of training on the under-nourished and the ill-clad. He or she can, however, supplement the good work done by the agencies mentioned above. Those responsible for the physical education of children in West Bromwich Schools have borne in mind, and are sympathetically and efficiently dealing with, these important phases of the general school training. The principle of a daily lesson of some form of physical activity has become an accepted fact. The gradual improvement of general posture is becoming more obvious—the normal outcome of real training. The so-termed backward ’’ child could be usefully employed in taking part in increased physical activities. It is important to bear in mind that children within the age groups of 11+ and 14 years require training which calls for increased standards of skill and agility. This requirement can only be met by the provision of suitable gymnastic apparatus. We are pleased to record that the Senior Schools are being equipped with the appropriate type of apparatus. Portable gymnastic apparatus may be usefully employed in the school playground when overhead and surface conditions are suitable. We would emphasize the importance and value of outdoor lessons under suitable weather conditions. Con¬ tinuity of training calls for indoor accommodation during the inclement months. Some schools have a suitable hall or room for this purpose but where no such provision is made the range of indoor lessons is strictly limited. Some form of elementary postural training can be of value and should be employed. Classes in Physical Education have been conducted for Teachers during the past year. We are happy to record that these classes have been well attended. All Departments with the exception of the Infants’ Departments have been repre¬ sented. A class for Teachers in Infants’ Schools will shortly be arranged. There are many centres now in West Bromwich, e.g., the Junior Evening Institutes, the Central Gymnasium at the