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HEALTH EDUCATION
Co-operation between schools and the Health Education Section
increased considerably during the year. The number of talks and
film shows given by the Section was greater than in the previous
year as was the number of requests. from schools and other organisations
for talks and/or film shows to be given by the Health
Education Staff, Public Health Inspectors, Nursing Officers and
Staff, or for the loan of films, film slides or other materials.
The Health Education Section undertook three main programmes
in the schools during the year:-
1. DENTAL CARE: Visits were paid to all infants' schools to
give a film show and demonstration on how and when to clean the
teeth, etc., with a dental hygiene kit given to each child.
2. FOOT CARE: Girls in junior schools were given a talk and
shown the film "The Five" on the correct choice of shoes, etc.
3. SMOKING: Following the publication of the report of the Royal
College of Physicians "Smoking and Health Now", a circular was
sent to all schools drawing attention to the recommendation that
staff should not smoke in those parts of the school to which
children had access. Posters were offered to all Junior and Senior
Schools, and a programme of two films and a talk on the dangers
of smoking was offered to Secondary Schools for all pupils and to
Junior Schools for pupils in their final year at Junior School. The
response from Head Teachers was exceedingly good, and it is
proposed to make the programme available each year in future to
all Junior Schools so that pupils are warned of the dangers at a
time when many children are beginning to have the occasional
cigarette, but before it becomes a habit.
It is, of course, exceedingly difficult to assess whether health
education is obtaining any effective results. Probably statistics
over a period of time could be used to indicate the value of health
propoganda, but there may be other factors which might affect
people's smoking habits, etc. Certainly many adult confirmed
smokers continue to smoke although fully aware of the risks they
run, and do not wish to listen, being fairly convinced, or hopeful
"that it can't happen to them". Therefore, it seems that the best
long term prospect is to tackle the subject of smoking at an early
age, and whilst it will be years before statistics can measure the
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