EDUCATION 53 
of work for pupils up to twelve years of age, devised courses of post- 
primary instruction which differed in kind rather than degree from the 
early stages of a secondary course, the new courses making their special 
appeal to pupils of different tastes and different, though not inferior, 
capabilities. ‘The Education Authority further realised that full benefit 
of the instruction to be provided in these new courses, largely practical 
and extending over three years, could best be got from centralisation. 
The city was accordingly divided into five areas, and a school in each was 
selected as an intermediate centre. To those selected schools pupils 
from the primary schools of the district are transferred at about the 
age of twelve on passing a control examination held twice yearly. The 
schools may thus be described as ‘ Central Selective’ in terms of the 
Hadow Report. Reorganisation was carried through in three stages 
during the years 1922, 1923 and 1924. A redistribution of the city 
population made the provision of additional schools of this type necessary 
in outlying districts, and two others have been opened recently, one in 
1927 and the other in 1932. All these intermediate schools, which 
provide for both boys and girls, are staffed by specialists—men for boys 
and women for girls. Books and stationery are supplied free, and 
sports facilities provided. Every endeavour is made to make this 
important stage of school life as effective, attractive and profitable as 
possible. 
The city is fortunate in its facilities for organised games. All the 
senior and intermediate pupils, numbering over 12,000, attend a play 
field for games once a week. Three special grounds, totalling 24 acres 
and supplemented by the public parks and Town Links, provide the 
necessary accommodation. Arrangements are also made in season for 
the playing outwith school hours of football, hockey, cricket and 
netball, and for the practice of field athletics. A pond attached to the 
Middle School provides facilities for instruction in swimming. 
Art appreciation and picture study is fostered in city schools by the 
circulation of twenty-seven sets of reproductions of famous pictures, each 
set remaining in primary schools for six months at a time, and in inter- 
mediate and secondary schools for twelve months. An essay scheme, 
supported by the award of prizes and certificates, is carried on in con- 
nection with the collection. 
The Authority also carry out their statutory duties with regard to the 
medical inspection and treatment of school children, and provide central 
clinics for teeth, eye, and ear, nose and throat work. A bath-house con- 
taining twenty-four spray baths with the necessary dressing accommodation 
was erected in 1927, and arrangements are made for the attendance 
thereat of senior pupils from schools in its district. The total attendances 
of pupils during school hours average 28,000 per annum. 
A ‘ Parents’ Day ’ is held in each primary and intermediate school at 
least once every two years, an occasion when the schools are thrown open 
for inspection and the opportunity offered to all interested to acquire at 
first hand some knowledge of school conditions and working arrangements. 
Further association with the home arises out of the evening Play Centres 
scheme which was instituted in 1918. There are now 10 schools utilised 
