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of parents in the Entrants group was for boys 81.5 per cent., and
girls 82.0 per cent.; in the Intermediate group, boys 69.1 percent.,
girls 76.4 per cent.; and in the Leavers group, boys 36.5 per cent,,
girls 53.1 per cent. 8,719 re-inspections were made as against
8,286 in 1934, and 6,980 in 1933.
There has been a drop in the number of parents attending at
medical inspections, most noticeable in the Leaver group. This
is unfortunate, as perhaps this examination has the greatest bearing
upon the child's future life. Choice of occupation may require
medical advice if that choice is to be made wisely. Square pegs in
round holes are found too often. Many of these misfits might be
avoided by a pre-study of a child's habits, aptitudes and inclinations.
Herein lies a fruitful field for school psychological medicine.
Unfortunately, there is little time, under present conditions, to
spare for this subject. For results of value to be obtained, observation
must be close and prolonged.
The abolishment of routine medical inspections, and their
replacement by a more fluid system of medical supervision, has
been strongly advocated in some quarters. Although it is conceded
that the present rigid group system has in some respects outgrown
its usefulness, yet a too fluid system might, in actual working
practice, allow children to pass through the sieve of quasi-medical
supervision who should be held back for detailed medical examination.
The time has, however, come when the medical side of the
Board of Education might, with advantage study all the pros and
cons of the subject closely with the end in view of evolving a
system more in touch with modern medical thought than is the
present system, which has been unchanged since its inception a
quarter of a century ago.