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51
It is to be noted that approximately 1 per cent. of the
children are reported year by year as being feeble-minded,
which means that there are close on 50 children in the district
of school age who are quite incapable of benefiting from the
instruction offered.
Allowing 10 of these to be of a hopeless type, and another
10 under seven, it leaves 30 for whom no provision is made
under the existing Acts. In all probability this duty will
become obligatory on all authorities in the near future.
Special Work.
During the year the nurse made periodic inspections at the
various schools to examine such children as were considered
likely to be unclean or verminous. In all 58 visits were made
and 1,417 children examined. 810 of these were found to be
unclean, and 561 notices were sent to the parents intimating
the condition and requiring that immediate attention be given
to it. In 249 cases the condition necessitated the exclusion of
the child for a couple of days.
The teachers subsequently reported that these children
returned much improved.
Exclusion from School.
Beyond the above, the following children on the report of
the School Attendance Officer were excluded on account of
minor infectious ailments:—
Mumps 16, Measles 4, Chickenpox 86, Whooping Cough
175, Ringworm 5, Verminous 11.
To these must be added children suffering from the more
serious infectious diseases, such as Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria,
etc., and those in contact with them.