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72
CO-OPERATION OF OTHERS IN THE SCHOOL
MEDICAL SERVICE.
As has already been commented on in previous reports, the
parents show an ever increasing interest in the welfare of their
children and welcome medical inspection as a valuable means of
obtaining advice and possibly treatment for defects discovered.
The interest of the parents is exemplified by the fact that over
75 per cent. are present during the medical examination at the
schools.
The teachers, as has been remarked upon on previous occasions’
give every possible assistance in medical inspection and show a
sustained interest in the medical aspects of school life. Without
their continued help medical inspection and treatment would not
prove so great a success. They recognise that medical inspection
and treatment must go hand in hand with the education of the
child and are most ready to seek advice regarding particular
defective children coming to their knowledge. Every assistance is
rendered by them in the ascertainment of mentally and physically
defective children and in the special supervision of such children
during the period which they spend in school.
The school enquiry officers so thoroughly co-operate with
the school medical staff, that at times one feels that they form part
of it. This intimate co-operation leads to the early discovery of
defective children and to their efficient supervision and at the
same time indirectly leads to better attendance.
In the early days of school medical inspection there was a
feeling that the day might come when school nurses would almost
entirely replace school enquiry or attendance officers, but the school
attendance officers occupy a distinctive position. Their duties
cannot be taken over by the school nurses, although to a very large
extent their duties have been reduced and the work of school
attendance can be carried out by a smaller staff than formerly. In
the course of their work the school attendance officers frequently
come across children concerning whose condition the school nurse is
better able to make enquiries and through their intimate association
with the school medical staff they are able to get this information
without much trouble. Again, much good can result from the school
attendance officers reporting to the school medical staff on any