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91
On the whole the present standing orders are a distinct
improvement on those previously in force in respect to these
conditions, but I am still of opinion that Card A should have been
given to the parent of every child newly admitted to school, and
that Card B should have been issued as soon as any verminous
condition was noted. However, this is not a matter of very great
importance, as most of the trouble arises with the old offenders,
and in those cases Card B or C can be used according to
circumstances without the loss of time that would ensue were it
necessary to use Card A for each new offence. Probably the greatest
difficulty arises from the fact that the standing orders are not
absolutely enforced in a few of the worst schools.
If one takes a comprehensive view of the whole subject of dirty
heads, I am of opinion that while the more flagrant cases have been
checked by the activity of the last five years, there is still need for
more systematic inspection of heads throughout our schools,
together with sustained pressure on the parents of all children
found dirty. Though one is loath to urge frequent prosecutions,
there is no doubt that a certain proportion of parents are so
indifferent to the interests of their own children and the rights of
their neighbours' children, that they can only be taught their duty
by the aid of the law. I trust that during the current year resort to
prosecution in selected cases will make the Committee's new
standing orders as effective in practice as they now are in theory.
This can be accomplished without difficulty if the magistrates who
deal with these cases appreciate the simple fact that prosecutions
are undertaken primarily in defence of the children of clean, selfrespecting
parents, who naturally object to their little ones
associating with verminous and filthy classmates.
As a check on the general cleanliness of school children Dr
Parsons has again extracted particulars from the hospital notes
concerning patients of school age admitted to the borough
hospital. During 1909, 400 children entered the wards, and the
following is a summary of the condition noted on admission:—
Children with clean heads, 194, or 48 per cent.
Children with nits on their hair, 139, or 35 per cent.
Children with nits and live stock, 67, or 17 per cent.
The proportion of quite clean children is exactly the same a
in 1908.
verminous conditions of the body
were noted in 32 instances.