ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION IN SCHOOLS
 "Every school has a responsibility for providing a healthful environment: physical, social, spiritual and
emotional. The authority which requires pupils to attend school implies the responsibility to provide an en-
vironment as evocative as possible for growth, learning and health. Location of the school should be chosen
with a view to ample space for buildings and grounds; to safety from accident hazards; to freedom from
noise; to cleanliness; and to the provision of as good drainage as possible. The school should not be at the
bottom of the valley nor at the top of an exceptionally high hill. There should be appropriate sunshine and
shade. The location should be easily accessible, particularly for small children.
 "Construction and maintenance of the school building should be superior to standards established by law
and health regulations. Important considerations are adequate size; appropriate ventilation, lighting and
acoustics; adjustable seats with regard for postural considerations; attractive decorations; fire and hurricane
proof construction. Lavatories and handwashing facilities should be adequate and accessible.
 "Play areas with necessary dressing and shower rooms should be available. School facilities should be
accessible for community use. There should be adequately planned and equipped health service rooms.
 "Housekeeping procedures and the maintenance of sanitary facilities in the building and school-grounds
should be under constant supervision. In addition a complete, detailed survey of sanitary conditions
and facilities should be made at least once each year. Written reports, listing recommendations for improve-
ments, should be filed with school managers, education officers, medical officers and be made available to the
public."
 Thus reads "A Charter for School Health" of the American Medical Association which was consulted
by the workshop.

1. Existing legislation: The legal position regarding the provisions of latrine facilities in schools
is governed by Section 23 of the Public Health Ordinance, 1942 and the Board of Education Rules (S.R. & O.
No. 33 of 1947), which read as follows:
 Section 23 of the Public Health Ordinance, 1942.
 "(I) Where it appears to the Senior Health Officer that any house or building is used or intended to
 "be used as a factory or school by persons of both sexes he may if he thinks fit by written
 "notice require the owner or occupier to construct a sufficient number of water-closets, earth-closets
 "or privies, for the separate use of each sex within a time specified therein.
 "(2) Any person who neglects or refuses to comply with any such notice shall be liable on summary
 "conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars and to a further fine not exceeding five dollars
 "for every day during which he makes default."
 Regulation 4(b) of the Board of Education Rules 1947.
 "Every school shall be provided with latrines for the use of teachers and pupils. In mixed schools
 "separate latrines shall be provided, as far apart as possible, for boys and girls. The latrines shall
 "be constructed and maintained to the satisfaction of the Medical Department. The number being
 "at the rate of 2 for every 50 pupils in average attendance: provided that where a school has 50 pupils
 "or under in average attendance there shall be one latrine for each sex."

 Purpose of the workshop: Discovering needs and discussing realistic ways of improving existing com-
munity environmental conditions, with special reference to the school child.
 The following needs in environmental sanitation were examined and some of the suggestions made were
as follows:
 1. Enforcement ofexisting legislation-as the Denominations have to approach Government for help, Gov-
 ernment should insist that the law is complied with.
 Latrines for teachers are practically non-existent.
 2. Cleaning the latrines-proper supervision by teachers and sanitary inspectors.
 3. Personal hygiene-should be discussed at parent-teacher meetings, since the success of it depends upon
 full co-operation between the home and the school.