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31
Once again I want to plead that the skin is an organ of the
body. It requires not only to be kept clean—it requires also to be
kept working. Bathing is a very good way in which to give the skin
some work to do.
The exposure of the body to the air and the friction of the
towel are very fine things, and I hope that even if it may not be
necessary to give children baths in the schools, the effect of school
life will promote a more extended use of the facilities for bathing
which we have and hope to have in Barking.
There are public swimming baths at East Street. These belong
to the Council. Children attending elementary schools are instructed
in swimming at these baths, and here is a healthy exercise which
should be encouraged.
(14), (15), (16) and (17) CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS,
TEACHERS, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICERS AND
VOLUNTARY BODIES.
The attendance of parents at routine medical inspection is
considerable, no less than 65.7 per cent. having attended during
the year 1929.
The teachers, too, take a remarkable interest in this work,
and their help is invaluable.
People are still found who do not understand that routine
medical inspection, in addition to affording them an opportunity
of having their children examined to see that there is no early
disease, is also a census of the health of the school population of
the town.
Without the accurate knowledge obtained from such a census,
you, as a governing authority, would be quite unable to determine
to what extent school life is in the best interests of the health of the
children. It is obvious, therefore, that if you are to have such a
census, healthy children must be counted in as well as others and it
is necessary for us from this standpoint to deal with the health}'
as well as those who are ailing.