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13
practice outweighs any advantages it may have." The Service can only
repeat the advice which it has frequently given, and which is mentioned
on pages 12 and 13 of the 1965 Report, and page 11 of the 1966 Report,
that the prohibition of barefoot physical education is desirable at all
times and essential when cases are occurring in the school.
Sporadic cases of ringworm continued to occur during the year, but
prompt treatment ensured that no spread occurred amongst school contacts.
The 1966 Report (page 11) and the 1967 Report (page 11) have also made
reference to the reappearance of this troublesome condition which was
thought to have been eradicated.
Vision Defects
Defects of vision constitute the largest single group of abnormalities
discovered by the School Health Service (Table 3). The incidence of
vision defects in Croydon exceeds the average incidence both in London
as a whole and in England and Wales. Nevertheless, it is by no means the
highest figure and the very diversity of authorities showing rates sometimes
twice that in Croydon quickly eliminates any aetiological theories.
It is interesting to note that the incidence of such defects in Croydon is
greater amongst girls than boys. This difference between the sexes has
been present in each of the four Reports presented by the London Borough
of Croydon but, again, the temptation to speculate concerning its origin
must be resisted.
The observation does, however, highlight the problems faced by the
Service in ensuring that the educational impact of vision defects is
minimal. Some children are unwilling to wear their glasses even for school
work and in girls at least, appearance is a reason often put forward. It is
remarkable how frequently spectacles seem to be mislaid or broken when a
routine vision test in school is due. Even more surprising is the number
of children who insist that they have been advised that spectacles are only
necessary "for watching television". If a child requires glasses for this
purpose is it unreasonable to assume that he might also require them for the
close work required at school?. Moreover, is society really providing
spectacles free of charge or at reduced cost solely for the purpose of improved
television viewing?
During 1968, 23.3% of school children aged 13 years in Croydon were
not wearing the glasses which had been prescribed for them.
It is pleasing to report that the facilities for diagnosis and correction
of vision defects have been much improved by the Committee's decision to
open a third school eye clinic in 1967 at New Addington. All three clinics
are being fully utilised and waiting lists have been reduced to reasonable
proportions. The Mayday Eye Clinic, administered by the Hospital Service,
has also benefited from this increase in facilities, so that the time before
an appointment can be offered has shown a welcome reduction. Thus the