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Two courses projected for September, 1939, one for all university-trained teachers below 30 in Government employ and one for vernacular teachers, were postponed until 1940 owing to staffing difficulties due to the demands of mobilisation.
Good progress was evidenced in the planning of games lessons. The use of the team system of group work and the teaching of specific practices leading to major games was noticeable. Lack of accommodation and the distance of the grounds from the schools still prevented the best development of this side of the work.
Swimming has now been accepted as a definite part of the school curriculum, but once again the lack of accommodation for schools proved a great obstacle.
After many disappointments, swimming was arranged for the island schools at North Point through the kindness of the committees and members of the Chinese Bankers and the Civil Servants Recreation clubs. In these schools, the normal physical education time-table was held in abeyance during June and July, and each pupil enjoyed a session of 1½ hours swimming per week. Owing to the distance of these clubs from schools, Government provided half the cost of tram tickets. The arrangement proved immensely popular, was undoubtedly beneficial, and in many schools resulted in a great improvement in the personal cleanliness of pupils. There is little doubt that swimming is the most desirable form of exercise throughout the summer months in Hong Kong.
Cooperation with the Health Officer for Schools developed. In October, a physical history record card was introduced in the lower forms. This card provides for the recording of normal physical measure 3 times in each session, and in addition provides for periodical attainment tests. Records are now being kept, from which a series of standards for the children of Hong Kong will be developed, against which the progress of the pupils may be measured more accurately. The card provides space for reports by the Health Officer for Schools, from which the efficiency of the training may be measured. At medical inspections, all cases of poor posture, etc., which are capable of improvement under the school scheme of work are reported by the Health Officer for Schools to the Supervisor, and every effort is made to give the attention needed; instruction in home exercises is given where desirable.
(c) School Buildings and Equipment.
Temporary quarters equipped with a domestic science room were prepared for the Teachers Training College; plans have been drawn and tenders received for a new building, which should be ready for occupation by September, 1940.
A new building was erected during the year by Munsang College, a vernacular grant school. The building has a large hall, ten classrooms for the middle school, a laboratory for physics and chemistry, a library, and a spacious playground.
At the Diocesan Boys School, an English grant school, a physics demonstration room was added to facilitate the teaching of science.
To the Diocesan Junior School was added a library, a model shop where children were able to gain experience as sellers and buyers, apparatus for fabric-painting, felt work, and weaving, and out-of-doors slides, swings, and sand trays.
St. Mary's School added a room for domestic science, and formed a museum.
The only Government school to which any major alteration was made was Ellis Kadoorie School, where a part of the building was adapted as a gymnasium, though several schools were repaired and painted.