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(18) HEALTH EDUCATION.
When dealing with one section of my Report, which has to do with the dental
services, I stressed the need there is for health education, and there can be no doubt
that education, particularly in the case of children, is the keynote of preventive
medicine. As I pointed out in previous years, I do not believe so much in special
lessons in health as that as many lessons as possible should be given with a bias in
the direction of health, and that by routine, healthy habits should be formed in the
scholars.
Much has been done in the general standard of cleanliness, so much so indeed,
that the outstanding cases of uncleanliness are more and more obvious. The idea
of coming to school with unclean teeth should be impossible, and the cleanliness
of the body and feet should be looked upon as more important than the cleanliness
of the hands and face. Regular habits as I have stated in a previous Report
should be looked upon as essential. It will be, I think, recognised on all hands that
correct habits, once formed, are far more important than such rudimental knowledge
as it is possible for your highly trained teachers, even with the very best will in the
world, to inculcate into children of minor years.
(19) SPECIAL INQUIRIES.
A perusal of this Report will, I think, convince anyone that there is a large
amount of material being handled which should, if time were available, lead to such
research as would help you materially in laying your plans for the future, and that
with the staff you have available at the present there is naturally not enough time
to get through the ordinary routine work let alone for them to be engaged in special
enquiries, without which progress cannot be maintained. I am of opinion that the
time for earnest research is now ripe and that every important and progressive
Local Authority should set aside definitely a service to undertake that research which
is the only proper foundation for future achievement. I do hope that by securing
an adequate staff with continuity of service, we shall be able in Barking to meet
the hundred and one problems which are facing school medical services at the present
time. I would wish to emphasise that the clinical work in the school medical service
is so important that every effort should be made to secure continuity of service.
It is only continuous service which leads to sound judgment and it is only this
sound judgment which in turn leads to fuller development along economic lines.
(20) MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Examination of Teachers.—During the year, 42 medical examinations were
carried out of applicants for teaching posts under the Local Authority.