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Hygiene of Schools.
There have been no noteworthy improvements carried out
in 1646. The main reasons for this have been:—
(1) The great lee-way to be made up in the exterior
decoration of school premises; and
(2) The general shortage of materials and labour.
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
This includes the routine medical inspection of the various
age groups at school, and the special examination of children
with defects at the various school clinic sessions.
Routine Inspection. Five sessions a week are held at the
schools, and, in order to make this examination as complete and
thorough as possible, not more than 15 children are called for
each session. The parent of the child is informed of this inspection
and some 80/90 per cent. of parents accept the opportunity
to attend. The medical record of the child is continuous
with the Maternity and Child Welfare record of the child; all
records being kept at the Health Department. A beginning has
been made to associate this medical card with the family record
card and home environment. In the case of the primary and
modern schools, a school nurse attends with the doctor, and here
We get an immediate association of the home visitor with the
doctor examining the child. In the case of the grammar schools,
however, the school nurse does not attend and the preparation
of the child for examination is given by one of the teaching
staff, usually the teacher responsible for the physical training.
In all cases of defect the head teacher is informed. There is,
however, a need for greater liaison between the teacher, the
Parent, the doctor and the child. It would be of advantage to
the doctor carrying out the examination if he had before him a
record of the child's behaviour and intelligence at school, its
habits and behaviour at home, and a report of the home environment
by the school nurse and the sanitary inspector. Until this
is done the value of the medical inspections at school cannot
be fully functionable.