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156
On pages 188 to 196 will be found tables showing the routine inspections,
treatments, etc., carried out during the year at these Secondary Schools. What
would appear to be a decrease in the number of children so examined and treated
at your elementary schools will thus be explained and in effect it will be seen
that the total numbers actually undertaken show an increase.
Many of the children attending these schools are from outlying districts of Essex
whose services would be difficult to compare with those services, which have been
outlined, for elementary school children in Barking.
(17) PARENTS' PAYMENTS.
From time to time you have had under consideration arrangements for the
recovery of cost of treatment from parents of children attending public elementary
schools. No alterations have been made during the year 1937.
(18) HEALTH EDUCATION.
The inculcation of habits, rather than the academic teaching of abstruse
principles amongst children is a matter I still reiterate. A fact which must
obviously commend itself is that you are setting up nursery classes in the new
year when it will be possible for habits to be inculcated into children at an earlier
age than has been possible heretofore. At these classes the children will be taught
habits of cleanliness—teeth cleaning, washing, etc. Up till now the children at your
Special School were the only ones supplied with a tooth brush of their own and who
had tooth brush drill as part of their curriculum, but this will now be part of the
system to be commenced in the nursery classes.
The Senior Dental Officer does from time to time give lectures on oral hygiene.
At the end of the year there has been a National Health Campaign and posters
and pamphlets have been supplied to schools, encouraging the call to a " Fitter
and Healthier Britain."
(19) SPECIAL INQUIRIES.
No special inquiries were carried out by your staff during the year 1937.