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70
is apt to look at the Welfare infant as the future school child and to
view the entrant as a school leaver. The general condition of these
sections of the school population is a fairly good indication of the
effectiveness of the Health Services.
Speaking broadly, the condition of the school entrant is
satisfactory although we find a variation in the condition in the
different districts wliich is markedly dependent upon the attendance
of mothers and children at the Welfares in the pre-scliool days.
For example, in one school in quite a poor district, we found that
out of 25 children inspected in one morning, 15 had perfect teeth,
the general nutrition was very good, and the clothing on the whole,
sensible. On each visit we remark on the excellent condition of the
entrants at this school. At another school in the same district
where the average income is about the same, the condition of the
entrants is not nearly as good and the proportion who have previously
attended the Welfares is usually low.
At this stage of school life an effort is made to train the child
in healthy bodily habits with splendid results.
We have very little complaint to make about the children
in the junior departments of the schools. In this age group the
children are usually looked after by the mother and are quite well
kept.
School leavers, however, are not nearly as satisfactory.
At every inspection in this group far too much time is taken up
by a discussion on personal hygiene. One cannot say that uncleanliness
is found but far too often there is a lack of personal
fastidiousness, which by this age the children should have acquired
In most of the schools, it is quite common, excluding those cases
where the conditions are due to lack of means, to find that perhaps
2 or 3 only, out of 25 or 30 girls ever brush their teeth, that clothing
is unsuitable, that posture is bad and the general air is that of personal
carelessness. It is in this section of the school community
too, that there are most refusals for dental treatment.
The unchallengeable conclusion that we are forced to is that
our children are not leaving school brimming with the health and
vigour that should be theirs, considering the resources that the
Public Authority has put at their command. This is a grave statement
but a statement based not only upon impressions formed
at successive medical inspections but unfortunately borne out by
statistics.
The weak link in our services is not difficult to find.