London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Ealing 1934

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]

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89
CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS AND VOLUNTARY BODIES.
Previous reports have mentioned fully the extremely
valuable help which is received from the teachers and school
attendance officers in the work of school medical inspection and
in the treatment of defects. Under the heading " Following-up "
(page 71) an account is given of the extremely valuable assistance
rendered by the head-teachers in securing that defects found at
routine inspection receive treatment. Without the interest of the
parents and the assistance of the teachers, school medical work
could make little progress.
Voluntary bodies which continue to give extremely valuable
assistance in the treatment and after-care of defective children
include the Central Aid Society, the National Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the School Attendance Aid
Committee and others, some of whom are mentioned in other
sections of this report.
PHYSICAL TRAINING.
A very complete account of the provision made in the schools
for physical exercises and organised games was contained in the
Annual Report for 1929. There is little that can be added except
to remark that whenever a new school is planned every effort is
made to provide a school playing field in close proximity.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
There have never been sufficient under-nourished children in
the Borough to justify a scheme for the provision of meals. The
Education Committee have, however, authorised the provision of
milk in school to necessitous children.
The Report for 1929 contained an account of the arrangements
made for the provision of milk in schools and the subject has
received considerable comment in subsequent years. It remains,
however, to record the tremendous impetus given to the scheme by
the action of the Government, through the Milk Marketing Board,
in arranging that the price of the third-pint bottles of milk should
be reduced from one penny to one halfpenny.