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School closure has been proved in urban districts to have no
influence on the spread of an epidemic. It is definitely disadvantageous
in as much as a valuable means of keeping a close watch
on the children is lost.
Medical Inspection in Schools.
Some rearrangement of duties has been carried out, as the
assistant medical officer who left at the end of 1931, and who
spent 9/llths of his time on school work, was not replaced. The
deputy medical officer, Dr. Watson, relinquished some of his other
work and devoted 5/llths of his time to medical inspections; Dr.
Falk devoted 2/llths; Dr. Jenkin-Lloyd 3/llths; Dr. O'Connell
7/llths; whilst Dr. Draper acted as part-time medical officer for
half the year, devoting 4 sessions a week to school medical inspections.
Dr. O'Connell, however, left in September, and his
successor did not commence his duties until the end of November.
The groups examined have been entrants, usually aged 5-7
years; intermediates 8 years; and leavers 12-14 years. These are
the three statutory groups. Examinations of children outside
these groups are classified as "others." Children brought
forward by head teachers, attendance officers, school nurses, etc.,
are classified as "specials."
Table II. gives a summary of the number of children
examined in the various classes in the different schools together
with the parental attendance at the examinations. A total of 8,936
children were examined as compared with 8,532 in 1932, and 5,729
parents attended the examinations. The percentage attendance of
parents in the entrants group was for boys 75 per cent., and girls
79 per cent.; in the intermediate group, boys 65 per cent., girls 71
per cent.; and in the leavers group, boys 37 per cent., girls 60
per cent.
As would be expected the percentage of parents attending is
lowest in the leaver group, though this is unfortunate, for at this
examination the medical officer can give the parent advice as to
suitable future employment. With the present lack of continuity
between the school medical services and the medical examination
of young persons under the Factorv Acts, advice given at the
school leaving examinations assumes some degree of importance.
The gap which also exists at present between the school leaving
age of 14, and the adolescent coming under National Health
Insurance Act at 16, is an unfortunate one. This period of life is
one which may have an important bearing upon subsequent health
both physical and mental.