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of our School Nurses spends most of her time in going round the
classes examining each one as regards its condition in this respect.
Hence, many of the more troublesome children are persuaded to
adopt better habits, and those of one class are encouraged to vie
with another in their personal appearance.
One nit in a child's head is now sufficient to separate it from
the number of "clean" scholars.
Girls are especially improving, and the custom of "bobbing"
the hair is an advantage to them. Among the boys, their hands
chiefly show their environment; and the Teachers are getting more
particular on this point, thus ensuring a betterment.
The attainment of cleanliness is very desirable, even at some
cost, for without it comfort is absent; and when a child is uncomfortable,
it does not get the full benefit of its schooling.
(6) Minor Ailments.
We see all the sorts of disease that children can suffer from at
our Clinic. Small injuries, cuts, bruises, running ears, skin
eruptions, etc. Automatically, those who have been found to be
delicate and to have defects are brought to Stuart Villa to be
advised, treated and kept under observation. All children on the
School Roll who have not a perfectly clean bill of health come under
our purview at this Centre, and I am pleased to say that more parents
are taking advantage of this Clinic as time goes on.
(c) Nose and Throat Defects.
I regret to report that I consider that the number of children
suffering from enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids is increasing. It is
difficult to say why; but I hope that every year more Infants will
be taken to the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, and that a
larger proportion of them will be treated before they reach School
age. Mothers are repeatedly told at these Centres that "dummies"
are harmful and dirty, and that there is a considerable ground for
believing that if they do not actually cause some of the disease,
they certainly aggravate it. We have always a number of children
in the Schools whose parents either do not, or will not, heed the
advice given them on this subject, and, unfortunately, the child
is the one to suffer and to be retarded in its education; and
moreover, if left untreated long enough, to grow up deaf and
therefore in an impaired physical condition.
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