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83
On this point I quite agree with the views of the leading article of "The
Medical Officer," of the 20th November:
"In school attendance as such the medical officer is not interested. This
is a function of the local school attendance committee laid upon it by statute.
He is, however, very much concerned to know what children are away from
school on account of illness, in order to secure that such children shall, so far
as lies in his power, receive proper attention, and in order to safeguard the
health of the children still in school. All this information can only be collected
by those who have had adequate training in the recognition of illness and
disease. It is not too much to say that a large proportion of the enormous sum
now expended on the school-attendance-officer system could be better devoted
to an extension of the school nurse-health-visitor-service, which would have a
still wider scope for useful work than is possible with the overlapping and
duplication at present in vogue."
CENTRAL SCHOOLS.
Towards the end of 1918 the Education Committee decided to establish
these for domestic and more advanced education of the older boys and girls,
and in 1919 classes for boys were started at Croyland Road and for girls at
Brettenham Road. In 1920 that for the girls was transferred to Raynham
Road. There was supposed to be provision for 80 boys and 80 girls.
Admission was reserved to scholars between the ages of 11 and 12 who
have passed through Standard V; also subject to an entrance examination and
satisfactory school records. The course extends for four years, so that the
pupils could remain to at least the age of 15 years. There are no fees for books
or stationery.
According to the Education Act, 1918, young persons who attend a course
of instruction at school up to the age of 16 years are not compelled to attend
part-time continuation schools up to the age of 18 years.
Towards the end of 1920 my Education Committee were desirous of
transferring the Central Schools (which were described as "blind alleys") into
Secondary schools in association with the Middlesex County Council, but one
practical difficulty was the provision of buildings, which the County Council
are unable to provide within a definite time—it may be three years, five years
or even longer. Meanwhile the County Council were asked to take over the
central as secondary schools temporarily. However, in January, 1921, the
County Council referred back the proposal for further consideration.