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243
The chief points which this table brings out are:—(1) The
varying standards of sanitary provision in the schools. Reorganisation
of schools, changes in the numbers attending, have led to
a rather chaotic relationship between the number of conveniences
provided to the number of children. (2) Insufficient provision of
towels. Children are notoriously careless in washing their hands
thoroughly, with the result that much of the dirt loosened by
soap and water finds its way on to the towel. I consider there
should be at least one roller towel to 50 children, and the towels
should be clean each day.
Only a few schools have trough closets, but the sooner these
are replaced by modern pedestal closets, hand flushed, the better
hygienically. Closets with automatic flushes engender careless
habits, which are reflected in the stoppage of closets so often
happening in private houses, and so often found to be due to
improper use.
Cost of the School Medical Service.
The gross cost of the medical, dental and nursing services
was £10,229; from this an income of £621 should be deducted,
making a nett cost of £9,608. The rateable value of the Borough
in 1934 was £2,064,772. The Government grant is 50 per cent,
of the expenditure, hence the actual cost to the rates was £4,804,
a rate of 0.58 pence. The nett cost of these services to the
rates for 1934 per child on the school registers was 3s. 6.6d.
The figures do not include £300 for Medical Inspection
(Higher Education) and for Blind persons £655.
Cost of Special Schools.
Schools maintained by the Council £5,831; Contributions to
schools under other authorities, £3,871; Loans charges, £499;
Other expenses (travelling, etc.), £10; Income from parents'
contributions and other receipts, £770; giving an actual cost of
£9,441, of which £4,720 was payable out of local rates, giving
a rate of 0.57 pence.