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are ineffective, talks to small groups in a more intimate manner give good results. The
use of films and other visual aids is considered to be important.
The subjects covered by the Council's headquarters and health divisions naturally
differ from those of the boroughs. Apart from the teaching of mothercraft the main
aim of divisional propaganda is protection against smallpox, diphtheria and whooping
cough. Great reliance is placed on the personal services and influence of the medical
officers and of the health visitors both in the homes and in the centres. As in the
boroughs, experience shows that talks to small groups have greater value than talks to
larger audiences. Increasing use is being made of films, film-strips and other demonstration
material. The departmental collection of films and film-strips on health education
is augmented as necessary by hiring from outside. Show-cases at centres serve a useful
purpose and lead to questions by the mothers, but exhibits need to be changed sufficiently
often to stimulate interest. Apart from material provided centrally, health visitors are
encouraged to make their own demonstration material, the Council providing the
necessary paints, brushes, wax, etc. Posters and pamphlets are used in all divisions and
are purchased, mainly from the Central Council for Health Education. Some district
nursing associations are supplied with leaflets on diphtheria and smallpox. Open days
are held in some divisions, as a means of improving contacts with voluntary agencies,
general practitioners and teachers. Similarly, divisional lending libraries have been
started at maternity and child welfare centres and liaison established with borough
libraries.
The Central Council for Health Education to which this Council contributes an
annual sum of £1,700, provides an advisory service on the content and methods of
health education, courses on health education technique for staff, exhibition topics, and,
at cost price, leaflets and posters. The National Baby Welfare Council, to which this
Council contributes an annual sum of £5 5s., has a permanent exhibition on maternity
and child welfare at its headquarters and also publishes leaflets and a monthly book
'Mother and Child'. The latter is purchased for circulation amongst divisional staff,
and some of the leaflets are purchased for distribution at welfare centres. Leaflets are
also purchased from the National Association for Maternity and Child Welfare to which
the Council contributes £10 10s. a year.
In the Council's schools health education takes the following forms :
Primary (including nursery schools and classes) and special schools—The inculcation of
cleanliness and hygiene.
Secondary schools—The curriculum of all schools includes physical education. At
some biology is included either as a special subject or as part of a general science
course. Housecraft and mothercraft teaching is given in girls' schools. Opportunities
for health teaching occur in all schools and, in addition, much incidental teaching
is given.
Polytechnics and technical institutes—Certain of the polytechnics arrange courses in
subjects connected with health—hygiene and public health, sister tutors, health
visitors, sanitary inspectors, nutrition, dietetics, first-aid, home nursing, etc. The
technical institutes maintained by the Council have similar lectures in health subjects.
The evening institutes provide instruction in first-aid, home nursing, infant care,
hygiene, parentcraft, physical exercises, keep fit and various forms of dances.
Health education in schools is properly a matter for teachers though there are times
when doctors and, more especially, health visitors can help. Health education of children,
not only for their own personal benefit but also because of their influence as future
parents of the next generation, is so important that no effort should be spared to improve
the standard in this country. The present crisis in juvenile delinquency and maladjustment
is sufficient evidence of the gaps in this form of education.
For many years school nursing sisters and health visitors have given courses of
instruction in mothercraft to girls in secondary schools and during 1952 a small committee
drew up some notes for a course of 12 lessons with a list of appropriate demonstration