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HEALTH EDUCATION
In the first half of the year the Health Education Officer was engaged in a special course of
Advanced Study in Content and Method of Health Education at the Institute of Education, London
University and acquired a Diploma in Health Education. During her absence her assistant maintained
the day-to-day running of the section.
Health Education in Schools
Towards the end of the year it was possible to arrange health education sessions in schools for
the school doctor. Full-time staff were given two sessions a month, while part-time staff were
allowed one session. The school doctors made the initial approach to the individual head teachers,
offering their services and discussing and arranging suitable subjects to fit in with the existing
curriculum.
Head Teachers and their staff showed great interest, especially in the infant and junior schools,
where the timetables are more flexible. After preliminary discussions health education sessions
commenced in October.
A head teacher of one junior school requested a talk on menstruation for 10—11 year old girls;
parents were notified. A female doctor took the session, and a film was screened. This type of
health education is increasingly important with this age group; because of earlier physical
development many girls are menstruating before leaving junior school, and doctors find at routine
medical inspections that many secondary school girls have little or no knowledge of the subject.
Talks on development, reproduction, ante-natal care and child birth have been given in one
secondary school to small mixed groups of boys and girls in their last year at school. Having the
sexes mixed was found to stimulate discussion. Questions in some instances were written
anonymously and answered at subsequent sessions. These talks were part of a special three week
home economic course organised by the school. The series of health education sessions will
continute to be part of the home economic course.
In addition to the above health education sessions, a health visitor gave a series of talks
throughout the school year, to eleven groups of 13—14 year old girls at one comprehensive school.
The syllabus included such subjects as reproduction, personal responsibilities and responsible
parenthood, and aspects on venereal disease and drugs. Owing to the shortage of health visiting
staff this series discontinued in November. The Health Education Officer was able to continue the
series in an abbreviated form, and arrange for the continuation in the coming year.
During the autumn term a total of 136 talks was given in 9 primary schools and 5 secondary
schools, to a total of 1,300 school children.
Health education topics in school were as follows:-
Drugs
Smoking and health problems
Industrial Health
Local Authority Services
Dental Health and Nutrition
Sex education and parentcraft
Home safety
General health
Health education and drugs
"Drugs and the Nervous System", a film suitable for 13 year olds and upwards, was screened
for head teachers, with a view to it being shown in schools. Some of the audience thought the film
might encourage experimentation and arouse curiosity in drugs.
From time to time literature has been circulated to head teachers and staff. There have been
periodic requests for information from pupils and student teachers, who were engaged on projects
concerning drugs.
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