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this will simply increase cases and shift the periodicity to out of
season. Measles causes a loss of at least a few weeks school time
and the fall in notifications indicates that already a good deal
of school time has been saved. Only in the long term can it be
estimated how much this will mean medically and educationally to
the adult.
Future Trends
Looking ahead, it is clear that considerable changes in the
care of handicapped children are on the way. It is believed that
the School Health Service will for very many years continue to
play an important part. It has a fund both local and national of
irreplaceable advantages of specialised knowledge in the medical
care of school children. Throughout the report this is emphasised
from time to time by the accounts of surveillance, research, care
and treatment of school children by medical, dental, nursing and
technical staff under the supervision of senior and experienced
officers.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Chairman and Members
of the Education Committee for their continued support. During
the past year more than ever, Mr. Barraclough, Chief Education
Officer, his Staff and Heads of Schools have been able to give
valuable advice. The School Health Section has benefited by this
consultation and cooperation in many useful directions not least
in the more effective application of Health Education in Schools'
curricula.
I am most grateful to Dr. P. A. Currie, Senior Medical Officer,
for his professional dedication to the Service, to the Medical
Officers in Department and the Administrative Staff, to the
Principal Dental Officer, Mrs. C. M. Lindsay and her Staff, and to
the professional and technical officers of all the supporting sections
of the School Health Service.
L. R. L. EDWARDS,
Principal School Medical Officer.