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The standard of nutrition, as indicated by column 1 (excellent) is apparently decidedly
higher in the group of children under consideration than in boys of the same ages at elementary
schools, and higher than that of the general run of secondary school boys. The incidence of
malnutrition however, though about the same as in the elementary school group and in secondary
schools in 1931, is 2 1 per cent, lower than the rate found last year in the latter.
The following conclusions may be drawn from this inquiry
(1) The nutrition of the boys in this school is good : 45 of the 100 inspected are classed as
excellent, and only 5 are subnormal.
(2) No material difference in nutrition has been found between the boys who have been
to elementary schools and those who have not.
(3) The standard in this school seems to be higher than that of boys in most elementary and
secondary schools.
(4) The incidence of malnutrition is about the same here (5 per cent.) as in elementary
school boys of the same age. It is lower than the rate in secondary school boys in 1932, and about
the same as that reported in 1931.
Re-
inspection.
The re-inspection of 2,710 pupils in higher education institutions was carried out;
1,630 defects had been remedied, 1,061 had improved, and in the remainder (mostly
dental cases) there was no improvement.
The following-up of defects discovered at secondary schools is left to the head
masters and mistresses. When the parent is not present, a letter recommending
treatment is sent, generally in the name of the head master or mistress. The
parents normally respond readily.
Scholarship children attending secondary and trade schools are given the same
facilities for medical treatment under the Council's arrangements as children in
elementary schools.
For fee-paying pupils at secondary schools who have been inspected by the
Council's medical officers or doctors appointed by the governors, arrangements are
made when necessary for medical treatment to be received under the Council's
scheme provided that (i) the parents cannot afford to make private arrangements
and (ii) payment is made therefor.
Training
colleges.
01 the 1,007 students examined in training colleges, none was found to be suffering
from extensive dental caries ; 87.9 per cent. of the men and 78.4 of the women
passed the vision test, but 32.4 per cent. of the men and 28.8 of the women
were wearing glasses.
The teaching of hygiene.
The new edition of the Board of Education's suggestions has been distributed
to all the schools.
The school medical staff is not formally identified with the work of teaching
hygiene. In all elementary schools, however, formal teaching of hygiene takes a
place in the syllabus.
A considerable amount of informal help is given by the doctors and nurses.
Applications for addresses by the medical staff to parents and children are not
infrequent and are always met. No time is, however, allowed for this, and if applications
increased to any extent it would be impossible to accede to the requests
without additional staff.
The work of the school nursing service is very largely devoted to the practical
inculcation of good habits of personal hygiene. As eighty per cent, of parents attend
the medical inspection of their children at some stage during school life, the school
doctors exercise a potent influence through their individual advice, and though the
effect of this is incalculable it is probable that there is no greater influence for health
at work in the population generally.
At dental inspection a little homily is generally given by the dental inspector
to the parents as a group on the importance of dental care.
The scheme organised by the education officer for dental demonstrations, in the
schools, by officers of the dental board is now a permanent feature of hygiene
teaching in the London schools, and reports are received which show that these
demonstrations awake great interest and are of much value. In some of the
boroughs the medical officer of health takes great interest in the work of education
in health. " Health week " is commonly associated with a mass attack, in which
the school children are catered for by special addresses and demonstrations.