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45
OBVERSE..r
[M.O.19 A.] LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL.
Notice to From
The Parent or Guardian of The Head Teacher (Infants' Dept).
School.
As a case of measles has occurred among the scholars in the class
which your child attends, it is possible that may have contracted
the disease. As it requires about twelve days for measles to develop
after infection, you are requested to pay particular regard to the state of
your child's health, during the NEXT THREE WEEKS, and upon the
slightest sign of illness to abstain from sending to school.
Date
Signature.
REVERSE.
NOTE.
Measles may be a very serious illness in young children, and manj
die from it. The early symptoms are those of a cold, which may be at
first slight; there is generally running at the eyes and nose, sneezing and
possibly cough. Many children lose their lives because parents allow
them to go out of the house, thinking that the indisposition is only a
slight cold, when it is really measles.
The case is then reported to the Medical Officer (Education) with particulars as to the numbers of
protected to unprotected children in the room. The measles returns from all schools are reviewed
daily at the Head Office, and when, in the opinion of the doctor, closure of a classroom would tend to
check the spread of the disease, instructions are given to the head teacher, who immediately sends
home the children in the affected classroom, after distributing the following light green card of
warning to parents:—
OBVERSE.
' " 1 [M.O. 19.]
LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL.
Notice to From
The Parent or Guardian of The Head Teacher (Infants' Dept.),
School.
As a case of measles has occurred among the scholars in the
class which your child attends, it has been decided to close the class tili
Measles is an infectious disease.
You are therefore cautioned, in the event of your child showing any
signs of this disease, to keep from contact with other children or
from exposure in public places until a fortnight shall have elapsed after
exposure to infection. A child who appears only to have a slight cold may
have contracted measles and be dangerous to others. Any child who has
contracted measles must not resume school attendance for one month. i
Date
Signature.
REVERSE.
NOTE.
Measles may be a very serious illness in young children, and
many die from it. The early symptoms are those of a cold, which may be
at first slight; there is generally running at the eyes and nose, sneezing
and possibly cough. Many children lose their lives because parents allow
them to go out of the house, thinking that the indisposition is only a
slight cold, when it is really measles.
It is expected that the widespread circulation of these cards will rouse parents to greater vigilance,
and that the detention at home and isolation of children immediately the symptoms show themselves
will reduce to a minimum the risks of infection being conveyed into school from outside
sources. The increased watchfulness on the part of the teachers, and prompt exclusion of suspected
children, will also reduce the chances of the diffusion of the infection in school. Some apprehension
is expressed by head teachers in regard to the possibility of the red cards throwing parents
into a state of panic and leading to interference with attendance by temporary withdrawal of
many of the children. These apprehensions do not appear to be justified in actual practice,
and the increase in frank confidence between school authorities and parents can only tend to greater
trustfulness ultimately. The parent has a right to know if his child has been exposed to the risk of
contagion, and we would fail in our duty if this information were suppressed through the indirect action
of the Board of Education's regulations in the supposed interest of school attendance. It must be