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91
Lastly I have to acknowledge the assistance rendered by the
superintendent attendance officer (Mr. Jones) and his staff. Mr. Jones
is constantly in touch with the Public Health office and the practice
of holding weekly consultations between the attendance officers and
the public health department has continued with advantage to all
concerned.
ATTENDANCE OF PARENTS.—This has been secured by written
notices despatched by head teachers prior to the medical inspections.
The parents or guardians of children inspected were present in 1,273
out of 3,659 children inspected or 35 per cent. In the infants schools
1094 parents were present out of 2,877 children inspected or 38 per
cent.
DISTURBANCE OF SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS. — This was
minimised as far as possible and in well equipped schools the visit
of the medical inspector did not materially interfere with the general
work of the school, but in certain of the older schools (Mitcham
Road. Sydenham Road, Christ Church) much inconvenience was felt
both by the teachers and by my own staff in making the necessary
inspections. When the plans for the next new School are under
consideration the Committee should bear in mind the necessity of
introducing some minor modifications whereby one of the teacher's
rooms or a suitable class room should be available for medical work.
The Committee should also seriously consider the advisability of
providing teachers'rooms at all the older schools that are unprovided
with this necessary accommodation.
The provision of a quiet, suitably lighted and warmed room
with washing appliances in each school would materially lessen the
difficulties of all concerned in medi::al inspection. In the absence of
these essentials it is impossible to work rapidly or to concentrate
one's attention on the series of problems presented to the inspector
as child after child is passed under review.
In some schools—i.g. Princess Road Infants—medical inspection
has consumed a larger amount of time than had been anticipated.
This is due to the considerable number of children that enter this
school and then leave the district. In schools of this type the
number of infants examined as " entrants '' is quite out of proportion
to the numbers at any one time on the roll.
EXTENT AND SCOPE OF MEDICAL INSPECTION DURING
THE YEAR —In selecting the children for inspection the requirements
of section 58 (b) of the code were primarily considered and arrangements
made for inspecting all the entrants to the infant schools and
as many of these who are likely to leave during the year ending July
31st, 1909, as could be dealt with in 1908. To these must be added
a number of children who were examined at the instance of the head
teachers or of the Attendance Committee. Though there are good
reasons for requiring the inspection of children about to leave school,