CRUMPETS, TEA AND SLEEP too Much Tea We've read above of the 'faintly sleazy cafe' across the street from the school where the pupils liked to gather to play the juke box. Such habits caught the attention of Mr James. the Head, who in 1956 wrote to the parents to express his concern: In common with other members of staff here, I have been worried recently by parents' statements of the late times at which many pupils arrive home after afternoon school. Afternoon school finishes at 3:40 and pupils in the main should be clear of the premises at 3:55: from time to time a pupil may be detained to report work poorly done: detentions given for bad behaviour are served on Wednesday or Friday afternoon. In general a pupil may be clear of the premises by 5 o'clock if detained. School activities of one sort or another also take place after afternoon school. I feel very strongly that the great majority of boys and girls should come straight home after leaving the premises: money, in most cases parents' money, is being wasted in cafes not only in cups of tea but in various machines: behaviour and company are not all that could he wished for at such times and this again is a matter of great concern to the staff, lowering as it does the prestige of this school in the eyes of the general public. I am, in view of this, asking parents to be good enough to help the school by seeing that as far as possible, their son and daughter come straight home from school: if special circumstances are such that it is necessary for your child regularly to obtain refreshment on the way home, it would be helpful if you would let me know. Prefects Those of you who are in the School now may perhaps have only a vague idea of what was meant by a prefect. There were about 20 prefects including a Head Boy and a Head Girl who were selected each year from the 6th Form. They had a room for their sole use what is now the Mathematics Work Room opposite the Staff Room and certain privileges in exchange for performing some duties around the school. (They lost this room in '72/73 because of the pressure for another Art Room.) Occasionally they were criticised for abusing some of their privileges like playing the wireless, playing table tennis or toasting crumpets during lesson time not even prefects were perfect! Normally, however, they spent a lot of their spare time helping to run the school and various clubs or societies. Has Homework interfered with your sleep lately? Message sent to Greenford parents Present 4th and 5th Years Take Note! COUNTY COUNCIL OF MIDDLESEX BOROUGH OF EALING EDUCATION COMMITTEE SLEEP Boys and Girls between 14 and 16 years of age Many parents recognise that young children need plenty of sleep a child of 5--7 needs at least 12 hours in bed, a child of 811 needs at least 11 hours and a child of 12-14 needs at least 10 hours. But it is not generally realised that boys and girls over 14 suffer seriously adverse effects if they do not get enough sleep. Boys and girls between 14 and 16 years of age need at least 9 10 hours in bed. Otherwise they become tired and irritable, lose their appetite and are unable to work hard or enjoy their leisure. Homework in the schools is planned so that it should never encroach upon bedtime but the approach of an examination sometimes induces anxiety in parents and pupils who may cut down the time for sleep in order to have extra time for preparation. This is unwise as the resultant strain and fatigue will be a handicap to good work and may have lasting consequences. W. G. BOOTH, Area Medical Officer. page 57