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A syllabus, assisted by a variety of audio visual aids for primary schools has been devised by the
section. Topics include personal hygiene, dental care, home safety and smoking. Health visitors were given
the opportunity of having the syllabus demonstrated to them with a view to further developing their health
education activities by running courses at schools.
The health education officer continues his teaching in schools; the headmaster of Holloway Boys'
School invited him to spend a term at his school advising the pupils about the dangers of V.D. and two
whole weeks were spent at the City Day College lecturing to the students on the misuse of drugs and
alcohol. G.P.O. apprentices also received talks on V.D., Drugs, Smoking and Alcohol during liberal study
periods at the Post Office headquarters.
Talks were given to entrants at primary schools in the borough on dental hygiene and the care of
teeth. At the end of the demonstration each child was given a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and a mug,
together with a letter from the Chief Dental Officer advising the parents about the wisdom of preseiving
the first teeth.
Many Parent-Teacher Associations in the borough were addressed by the health education team in
order to acquaint them with the activities of the service. Several parents expressed their appreciation of the
work being done in schools and were gratified to learn that topics which they were unable to discuss with
their children, either through lack of knowledge or inability to communicate, were being freely discussed
at school.
Youth Clubs
The contacts with youth clubs and youth leaders are maintained and calls for talks to clubs and
their members are increasing, and the regular involvement with courses presented at the Central Y.M.C.A.
continues.
Smoking Advisory Clinic
This clinic is still working with a rewarding degree of success and again has been featured by the mass
media on many occasions including B.B.C. Television "Health Hazards" series. Radio, etc. The American
Broadcasting Service filmed the clinic in action for a special programme for screening throughout America.
In-Service Training
This is now a feature of the health education service. Professional field staff who attend the health
education centre for training in activities connected with the promotion of health include teachers, public
health inspectors, health visiting and nursing staff, medical and nursing students and staff from the Social
Services Department. In addition, home helps have received training in primary first aid and oral resuscitation,
as already mentioned, as well as hypothermia recognition.
Whittington Hospital
A series of talks on Smoking, Venereal Disease, Drugs and Alcoholism, etc. presented to hospital
staffs during lunch times was well received.
Many educational agencies continue to make use of the facilities available to postgraduate and other
students on health education theory and practice. The health education officer was again invited to give
papers to D.P.H. students at the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene. He also lectured to health
visitors of the City of Westminster on anti-smoking education and its presentation, and gave a paper on
"Drug Abuse and Dependence" at a training conference presented by the British Red Cross Society.
The Inner London Education Authority has always taken an active interest in health education and
our health education service presented displays of material at a number of conferences dealing with health
education arranged for I.L.E.A. teaching staff. The health education officer was also invited to give papers
on the method and content of health education at seminars presented by the Authority.
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