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70
EDMONTON EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
REPORT of the School Medical Officer for the
Year ended December 31st, 1916.
Town Hall, Edmonton.
To the Chairman and Members.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I herewith submit my fifth Annual Report.
Dr. Strong continued acting as School Medical Inspector throughout the
year, but at the end of July Mrs. Hobbs retired, having obtained a post as
Infant Life Protection Visitor in the western half of the Edmonton Union.
She was succeeded in September by Miss S. A. G. Wrampling. However,
in the light of his last year's experience, Dr. Strong was enabled to make
good progress with his work.
The absence of a clerk has rendered my duties as School Medical Officer
unduly onerous. In November, 1915, this Committee recommended that
a temporary clerk be appointed, and so did the Sanitary Committee, but
their advice was not followed by the Council. On February 1st, 1916, I
brought this again to your notice, but no action was taken. I have, therefore,
had to spend valuable time doing merely a clerk's work. Amongst other
consequent inconveniences, you have been unable to receive typed copies of
my reports to the monthly meetings. This I much regret. The late appearance
of this Report is another.
When the war is over, if not before, another woman officer should be
appointed to visit the homes of scholars, as regards infectious, contagious, and
other conditions affecting the attendance at school. Like the School Medical
Clerk, half her salary might be paid by your Committee and half by the
Council. I advised this last year.
On January 25th, 1917, Dr. F. E. Rock was lost in H.M.S. "Laurentio,"
whilst serving his King and Country. I deeply deplore what is not only
a heavy loss to Edmonton, but to myself personally. He inaugurated the
School Medical Service work here in 1908, and since he joined my staff in
1912. our relations had been most ha.ppy.
I am,
Your obedient servant,
SIDNEY C. LAWRENCE,
12th June, 1917. School Medical Officer.