[Report 1956] / School Medical Officer of Health, Counties of Perth & Kinross.

  • Perthshire (Scotland). County Council.
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / School Medical Officer of Health, Counties of Perth & Kinross. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3. SANITARY CONDITIONS OF SCHOOLS. This year the schools dire • for review are 'those in the Central District of Perthshire and in the County of Kinross. These, are- as follows: Aberuthven, Auchterarder, Blackford, Blairingone, Blairnroar, Carnbo, Cleish, Comrie, Crieff J.S., Dunning, Fossoway, Fowlis Wester, Glendevon, Glenlednock, Kinross, Madderty, Milnathort, Monzie, Monzievaird, Muckhart, Muthill, Portmoak, St. Dominic's, St. Fillans, Trinity Gask and Tullibardine. 1. Overcrowding. There is some'degree of overcrowding at Muckhart, Milnathort, Portrnoak, Dunning Infants, Crieff, Auchterarder, and particularly at Aberuthven, which is-very badly Overcrowded. As will be seen below, however, new schemes are in hand for all but one of these schools. 2. Condition of Buildings. In general the condition of the school buildings is satisfactory. There are knotty floors at Monzie, Blairnroar, Trinity Gask, Milnathort Infants, Dunning Infants and Auchterarder. Trinity Gask and Muckhart are in need of redecoration. Aberuthven and Portrnoak are both in need of reconstruction or replacement for which schemes are in hand. 3. Playgrounds and Plavingfields'. Of the smaller schools, most have no playing field and a number have only restricted grass covered playground space. Since this group of schools was last reported on, a considerable amount of tarmac surfacing has been carried out. At Blackford road water tends to pool at the entrance gate. At St. Dominic’s both playground surfaces are unsatisfactory, but these are scheduled for tarmac this year. Auchterarder has part tarmac and the remainder is very muddy. Further tarmac is required at Cleish and Blairingone. At Fossoway the tarmac surface is not very satisfactory as water is pooling at many places. 4. Shelter Sheds. These are satisfactory on the whole, though me or two of the smallest schools have none. The accommodation, however, is poor at Comrie, Aberuthven, Portmoak, Blairingone, Auchterarddr and St. Dominic’s. 5. Water Supplies. These are generally satisfactory. At Monzievaird, the supply is barely adequate. At Madderty there are doubts about the quality of the supply and meantime water for domestic purposes is being brought in daily from Crieff. 6. Washhand Basins. Provision of these is gradually being improved. ..Hot water is available at Fowlis Wester, Monzie, Monzievaird, Trinity Gask, Dunning Primary, Madderty, Crieff, Kinross and Cleish. All the other schools have cold water only. At St. Fillans the provision of basins is insufficient. Soap and towels are provided, the latter changed generally twice (occasionally three times) per week, but at seven schools towels are only changed once weekly. With School Meals provided on the premises, ample provision for hand washing before meals should be available and this should include hot water and towels. 7. Toilet F .cilities. With one exception, all schools in this group now have flush toilets. The one exception is Monzie which has chemical closets which are kept in very clean condition. The toilets generally are kept in satisfactory condition. Toilet paper is provided. Two of the smallest schools have no urinals. A number of minor, mainly plumbing, defects were found at the time of inspection, most of these being due to the exposed conditions, but the urinals generally are in a satisfactory condition. At Blairingone, the conveniences are regarded as being out of date, but a scheme is under review. S. Ventilation and Lighting. In general ventilation of the schools is satisfactory, although at Dunning Infants a few more opening windows would be beneficial. In general the schools have good natural lighting, but Trinity Gask is rather poor. All except three of the schools have electric lighting, one having rural gas and two paraffin pressure lamps. 9. Heating. Fifteen schools now halfe central heating in whole or part. At Auchterarder the heating plant does not appear to be altogether satisfactory. At/