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63
CLEANSING SCHEME.
The School Nurse visits the Schools as early as possible in the
first week of each term and examines every child with regard to
Cleanliness. The names of children found infested with Nits or
Vermin are entered in a book, and these children are inspected
again once every fortnight during the remainder of the term. The
procedure in respect of Verminous Children is as follows:—On the
first occasion the child is not excluded from school, but a warning
notice is sent to the parents. On every subsequent occasion, when
their condition is unsatisfactory, they are excluded from school until
they have been examined by the School Nurse. When a child is
excluded from school a card pf instructions is forwarded to the
parents notifying them that the child must be examined again by
the School Nurse before returning to school. If on re-examination
the child is still in a verminous condition, a prosecution is instituted.
This systematic inspection, supported as it is by the co-operation of
the Head Teachers, School Attendance Officers and Parents, has
greatly assisted in raising the standard of cleanliness in the schools.
Legal proceedings were taken in 5 cases against Parents under
the Children Act, 1908. or the School Attendance Bye-Laws, and
Fines were imposed varying from 5/- to 7/6.
The following is a tabular statement of the work done by the
School Nurse under the Cleansing Scheme:—
Total number of visits made to the schools 127
Total number of examinations of children made by the
School Nurse during the year in the schools 10012
Total number of individual children found Verminous 283
A card of instruction for cleansing the head or body is sent to
the parents of a verminous child. Vermicide is supplied free, and
difficult cases are cleansed at the School Clinic.