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162
UNCLEANLINESS.
Those of us who can remember the appearance—and the smell—
of scholars and school rooms before the first world war can have no
doubt regarding the hygienic transformation that has taken place
in the cleanliness of pupils since that time.
Uncleanliness of scholars is not a popular subject in educational
circles ; and even in health education it is kept well in the background
But although the precept may not have a great direct
educational appeal, the practice of personal cleanliness in school
has a most salutary indirect effect in the promotion of self respect,
for habits of personal cleanliness acquired in school persist throughout
life. It should also be realised and remembered that the
uncleanliness of scholars was one of the original reasons for the
employment of school nurses and school doctors.
Ever since the initiation of the School Health Service a
persistent campaign has been waged against vermin in school
children, and the conducting of cleanliness inspections in school
makes a heavy demand on the time of school nurses.
The older members of the staff, who remember the heavily
infested heads once so common, are impressed with the improvement
in the standard of cleanliness ; for nowadays a child's head is classed
as verminous even if one nit is discovered.

In 1913 the number of children (4,048) submitted to cleanliness
inspection in school was relatively small, but so was the number
(one) of the school nursing staff; and the high rate and severe
nature of the verminous infestation then prevalent must have
occupied a very large proportion of the nurse's time. But the most