192 REPORT— 1902. 



Teachers arc also required to obtain the Board's physical education certi- 

 ficate, but are exempt from the theoretical part if they have already taken 

 the advanced hygiene. The British College of Physical Education grants 

 a certificate for male and female school teachers ; a certificate on the 

 Swedish system is also granted by rliat College for women teachers. Both 

 of these are regarded as fulfilling the Board's requirement. 



The Board also recognises in special cases the . certificate of the 

 Sanitary Institute as an alternative to the advanced hygiene certificate 

 of the Board of Education. 



The head teacher of each department of a school is responsible for 

 seeing that the regulations as to school hygiene are carried out with 

 regard to cleanliness, ventilation, keeping temperature of class rooms at 

 sixty degrees, supervision of offices, &c. 



The Board have recently arranged for eight oculists to make an in- 

 spection of the children's eyesight, and teachers are instructed to place 

 blackboards in a good light and to write large upon them ; also to study 

 the children's eye.sight when at needlework. 



liemarks by Dr. Keek. 



{(() Female teachers generally are utterly indifferent to the question 

 of ^ entilation. Many of the older teachers are opposed to any opening of 

 windows. 



{h) Most teachers resist the sufficient breaking up of lessons, and do 

 not interpose short drills, desk exercises, and rests as they should, 

 especially with younger children, in such continuous exercise of special 

 nerve-centres as is involved in writing lessons. They are much prone 

 to adopt new methods without understanding principles, and the results 

 are frequently caricatures of what is really wanted. 



Infant teachers seem to use most common sense in relation to their 

 work, probably through the influence of Froebel Child Study and other 

 such Societies. 



(c) In many parts of the country there is little or no physical drill or 

 training in Pupil Teacher centres. All such centres ought to have this 

 subject insisted on : the drill they want is more elaborate than ordinary 

 school work, and marks awarded for drill, general carriage, and deportment. 

 The bearing, carriage, and general behaviour of pupil teachers has a 

 decided influence (subconsciously) on their children. A report to the 

 Bradford School Board last November deals with the inferior physical 

 condition of pupil teachers at central classes. 



(d) Most teachers only look on. these matters as they are likely to 

 affect their school results. They will look after mouth breathers when 

 they realise the effectual result of surgical treatment educationally. They 

 do not take the trouble, and cannot be trusted to conscientiously carry 

 out eyesight testing (probably it is so exceedingly uninteresting and 

 monotonous, the immediate results are not apparent, and the reasons for 

 its importance they fail to realise). 



(e) A few teachers enter into every educational question with avidity, 

 and in most cases they find in towns plenty of means of following up 

 subjects in which they are interested. Hygiene as a part of every 

 teacher's equipment should be insisted on, and have equal marks with 

 art. It would greatly add to the teachers' interest in their work. 



