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EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS
The Health Education staff visited all grades of schools and educational establishments in the Borough,
ranging from Nursery Schools to Further Education establishments, to give talks on specific topics including
Dental Health, Smoking, Drugs, Human Relationships, Venereal Disease, Home Safety, Personal Hygiene,
Emergency First Aid and Resuscitation and, for the first time, Family Planning and Contraception. Many
talks on this delicate but vital subject have been given in Secondary Schools by the Health Education
Officer to fourth year students. The talks have been received with enthusiasm and frankness, which is not
surprising as so many parents are unable to communicate with their children when it comes to discussing
sexual matters. Children are maturing physically at a much earlier age, many girls are beginning to menstruate
whilst at primary school and are not given sufficient warning by parents about what may happen to
them because the parents themselves are not aware of the changes taking place and are apt to base their
attitudes on their own experience.
Many parents have adopted a complacent attitude towards immunisation and vaccination. "These
things don't happen any more so we needn't bother" is an attitude too often adopted today. It is only by
constant vigilance that many infectious diseases can be kept at bay. The Health Education Officer went to
many Primary Schools to speak to the mothers of entrants about the wisdom of maintaining the immunisation
levels of their children. He also visited many Secondary Schools to talk about vaccination against
Tuberculosis and German Measles and it is pleasing to note that as a result the acceptance rate for Rubella
immunisation increased by nearly 100% at a number of schools.
The Health Education Assistant lectured on Emergency First Aid and Oral Resuscitation at a number
of Secondary and Primary Schools in the Borough and the interest shown indicates that there is a definite
need and demand for this form of health education.
The Health Education Officer was invited to give lectures on smoking at the City Day College for
Further Education. He spent an entire week addressing groups of 400 or more students each day and the
Principal later reported that the effect was remarkable, many students and members of staff having given up
smoking. One only hopes that the effect will be sustained!
The Health Education Officer was invited to talk to a number of Liberal Studies groups for the over
50's at Further Education Institutes in the Borough. The talks covered many topics including "Keeping
Well in Retirement".
Many more teachers are taking advantage of the Health Education facilities available to them through
the Health Education Service; thus we see a greater interest being fostered in health education. It is anticipated
that an even greater interest will be shown when the school leaving age is raised next year as much
health education can be slotted into the "Liberal Studies" and "Humanities" groups of subjects.
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS
Many schools in Islington,but not all,have Parent/Teacher Associations. It is possible, through these
associations, for the Health Education team to demonstrate to parents the topics discussed with their children
and to show visual aids and films used during the lessons. In addition, many parents are themselves
seeking help and advice on a number of topics and through the medium of the Parent/Teacher Association
are able to discuss problems and obtain information about subjects which might not usually be available to
them in other areas.
CENTRAL Y.M.C.A.
The Health Education Officer continued to take part in courses on Human Relationships presented
by the Association for Islington school leavers.
YOUTH SERVICE AND CLUBS
The demand for talks on various health topics continues and is increasing. The subjects most frequently
under discussion are V.D., Drugs and Alcohol.
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