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Another subject on which we are increasingly asked to provide information is the drug problem in young people.
Since it is already so much discussed by children we have no hesitation in supplying carefully selected information
which gives a balanced view of the whole drug situation.
Health Education is a subject which receives much lip-service nowadays, but even though many people
acknowledge the great benefits that it could bring to individuals and the community in general, and the
subsequent easing of the strain on the country's health services, surprisingly little of these resources are devoted
to this purpose.
Health Education in Schools
Talks and short courses on a variety of health topics continue to be given in schools by the Health Education
Officer. It is encouraging that many more teachers ask advice and use the audio-visual aids available from the
Health Education section. Pupils increasingly use the service for their health education projects and it is a measure
of their interest in the subject. Health topics are being programmed into biology, home economics and social
studies courses and vary from human biology, venereal diseases, smoking, drugs, child development, parentcraft
to world population.
Health Education sessions by school doctors, were discontinued in 1970 due to frequent changes in staff
establishment, and only in isolated cases did the doctors participate in health education talks. It is hoped that
these sessions will recommence at a later date.
Stimulated by the B.B.C. radio-vision and television series on primary sex education, talks on menstruation and
"growing up" were requested by six primary schools. Parents were very co-operative. Some schools held parent/
teachers meetings prior to the talks in schools. In all cases parents were notified by letter of the nature of the
talks, and had the option of withdrawing their child. Withdrawals varied from one or two to four in one school.
A short series of talks for school leavers has been initiated in one comprehensive school for separate groups of
girls and boys. Topics on development, reproduction, ante-natal care, childbirth, smoking and venereal disease
were included in the series.
The amount of health education given in schools by the Health Department is limited by the small percentage of
health personnel who are available to give talks in schools compared with the numbers of schools and pupils. The
objectives of the Health Education section are therefore aimed at providing audio-visual aids, advising and
assisting teachers to introduce health education into the syllabus. With these aims in mind the Health Department
in co-operation with the Education Service, are providing a series of lectures at the Teachers' Centre during the
Spring Term of 1971.
During the year a total of 65 talks was given in six primary and six comprehensive schools, to a total of 1,170
school children.
The Inter-Services Standing Committee on Youth and Working Party
This Committee consisting of representatives of the education, health and social services and various voluntary
organisations concerned with youth, continues to meet at periodic intervals. The Health Education section
plays an active part in the working party.
The section was responsible for arranging two symposiums — "The Adolescent in Society" in March 1970 with
Dr. Wendy Greengross, from Marriage Guidance, and Mr. Alec Dickson, C.B.E. of Community Service Overseas
as Speakers.
At the second symposium, "Youth and the Social Services in the 70's" held in November 1970, Mr. John Ewer,
M.A. of the Youth Service Information Centre, Leicester, was the Speaker, followed by a panel of experts from
Education, Health and the Juvenile Bureau, Both symposiums were excellently chaired by His I Honour, Judge
H.B. Grant.
Following the success of these two meetings, it is proposed to hold a similar venture in 1971.
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