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protected as there had been cases of smallpox in the district. A number of children
were rejected provisionally on account of personal hygiene for further examination
and were subsequently passed as fit.
Employment of School Children.
The applications during the year 1928 for medical certificates in connection
with the employment of school children out of school hours under the by-laws
numbered 4,518, of whom only 61 were girls.
The nature of the work for which certificates were granted was for boys (girls
in brackets): delivery of milk, 259 (0); delivery of newspapers, 2,627 (37); carrying
of parcels, etc., 657 (9); in a shop, 347 (4); in a coal yard, 13 (0); industrial work
at home, 7 (0); housework away from home, 21 (3); as a messenger, 62 (2); not
stated 96 (1); in more than one occupation, 35 (1).
Certificates were refused on medical grounds in the cases of 88 boys and 4
girls ; in 147 cases the certificates were granted subject to medical treatment being
obtained, and in 151 further cases other conditions were imposed. In 20 cases the
provisional certificates were withdrawn on account of the non-compliance with the
conditions under which the certificate was issued. There is a slight increase in the
number of children compared with the vear 1927, i.e., 1928, 4,518, and 1927, 4,161.
Children
engaged in
stage
entertainments.
Under the rules for certificates of children employed in stage entertainments,
204 children were examined and kept under observation. 180 of these were girls and
only 24 boys. Five children were rejected outright on medical grounds, two with
heart disease, 1 with general debility, and 1 who, in spite of all endeavour, refused
to get attention to extensive dental decay. Thirty-three certificates were issued
subject to medical treatment; 23 of these required dental treatment, 7 required
spectacles, 1 needed treatment for blepharitis and 1 for otorrhcea. Three children
were found suffering from scabies and 1 was verminous. Certificates were withheld
in these cases until treatment was arranged and the conditions cured.
Nursery Schools.
Nine voluntary nursery schools in London are aided by the Council by grants
to the managers approximately equal to one-half their expenditure.
There is in addition a large nursery school (the Rachel McMillan) for 260 children
on the "Stowage" site in Deptford aided by a 50 per cent. grant from the Council
as regards 160 children, and wholly maintained by the Council as regards 100 children.
A complete account of these schools is given in last year's report.
The Education Committee during the past year has again considered the
question of the establishment of nursery schools, and has now come to the
conclusions that there is room for more nursery schools in the Council's education
system, and that the nursery schools should be of the "detached " type, i.e., they
should be conducted apart from infant departments of elementary schools.
Enquiries have been made into the approximate cost of building, equipping
and maintaining two schools on an experimental basis. Various sites have been
viewed and two which are already in the possession of the Council seem suitable.
It is proposed that the programme of the Council's education work shall be extended
to admit of the provision of two nursing schools as an experiment and for the aiding
of additional voluntary schools.
The method of selection of the children for provided nursery schools within the
age limits of two to five will be by the school medical officer on health grounds,
consideration being given to the report of the school care committee on home
conditions. The Education Committee is particularly anxious to link up the work of
the nursery school with that of the infant welfare centres, and considers that joint
representatives on the managing committees of centres and nursery schools in the
same districts would do much to facilitate co-operation.