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6
HEALTH EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
Miss D. S. Elliott, S.R.N., H.V. Cert., Dip. H.E.
Health Education Officer
"Knowledge that is acquired, through compulsion hath little or no
hold on the mind." Plato.
When any vast new area of human knowledge is opened up, man
quickly exploits its various regions, In the field of public
health the work of sanitary engineers, bacteriologists, virologists,
immunologists, vital statisticians and many other
public health, medical and scientific personnel have helped to
increase the expectancy of life. Nevertheless man is an individual
and his "individuality is by no means a free gift; it has
its price. Our differences make life interesting, but they also
make it difficult." 1 Concentration on the statistical average
may be useful in plotting a set of human measurements or describing
the human population, but as a guide to the understanding
of an individual and the management of his life it occasionally
creates more difficulties than it solves.
Today, by means of direct instruction and free discussion,
health education involves helping individuals to choose ways of
behaviour which will help them to live healthy, happy and useful
lives in a community in which "no man can be an island."
Secondary Schools
With this principle in mind the forging of stronger links
between the health and education departments has continued. The
health education work started in some secondary and grammar
schools has been consolidated. Requests from teachers for information
and help are slowly but steadily increasing and more
are visiting the health education section to view materials and
discuss programmes.
The staff of Coloma and Lady Edridge grammar schools were
anxious that in addition to academic subjects, the girls should
have opportunities to learn more about the community in which
they live and human relationships at home, at work and at play,
Helped and encouraged by the staff of the health education
section the health visitors taking the one year course in the
sixth forms reported that the longer period of time with the
same group of girls enabled them to establish a really good relationship
with them. It was also a pleasure to have the help of
a district nurse with the practical work during the home nursing
section of the course at Coloma.