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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
Secondary Schools
The established Community Health, Nursing and Parentcraft
Courses in Grammar and Secondary Schools continued satisfactorily
during the year and an increasing number of teachers visited the
Health Education Section for information and a preview of
various visual aids.
Primary Schools
Evening sessions on "Growing Up" continued to be held for
the parents of boys and girls in the fourth year. These were
followed as usual by second sessions a week later for mothers
and daughters only.
Home Safety talks were given to some parent-teacher associations
and Pierre Picton, the television clown, emphasised care
with fireworks during performances at ten junior and infant
schools.
Six schools were also visited by the Oral Hygiene Service.
With the co-operation of the headmistress and health visitor
at Wolsey Infants' School, New Addington, one of the school
medical officers undertook an excellent piece of health education.
During a series of entrants' examinations he had observed
a number of ear infections. An invitation was sent to each
parent to return on the last day for a half-hour talk and short
films on the prevention of these conditions. Seventy-four
mothers attended at 3.00 p.m. and were in the school and able to
collect their children at 3.30 p.m. to take them home. Because
the doctor had examined their children, the mothers felt he had
a personal interest in them and were only too happy to come and
listen to his advice.
Smoking and Health
Following a year when no particular emphasis was put on this
subject, a concentrated effort was made again in Secondary
Schools. Sessions with the new film "Smoking and You" followed by
discussion were held in thirty Secondary Departments. Selhurst
Girls' Grammar School organised a week's campaign making use of
a survey among staff and pupils, a poster campaign, displays and
a series of lectures and discussions.