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138
The function of education is to prepare individuals for complete living,
and yet, in the past, this most important branch of education, the training
in the art of parentcraft, lias been entirely neglected.
The bringing up of children was left to impulse, joined with suggestion
from people who often had no knowledge of the laws of health. It is not
surprising that thousands of children died, and that many who survived were
enfeebled in body and mind.
To fill this need of education is then the primary function of our work,
and 1933 has been a year of steadfast endeavour in this direction.
The forms of teaching vary—perhaps the most successful method of
instructing mothers is group teaching each day during the session at the
Welfare Centres. Talks are given, aided by practical demonstrations, and
this method is found to be most far reaching in its results, especially among
the less educated type of mothers. They frequently remember what they see
more than what they hear,'and we know by question and answer, -and by
simple written competitions, that the teaching is bearing fruit. This work has
been undertaken by Health Visitors and Student Health Visitors under my
supervision—most of the talks being written and scrutinized before being
given. Great care must be taken that knowledge imparted to mothers is
sound, accurate and up-to-date. To achieve this object it is of the utmost
importance that the Health Visitor should be acquainted with recent advances
in knowledge, by reading widely and by attending Conferences, lectures,
and post-graduate courses from time to time.
During the year an effort litis been made to cover the whole range of
subjects relating to the successful rearing of children. In view of the modern
advances in the study of diet, however, we have concentrated somewhat on
this factor during the year. For although it is impossible to buy sufficient
food with insufficient money, it does not follow that those who have enough
money get the right kind of food.
We have also concentrated on propaganda on Breast Feeding with
successful results. Only 25% of children attending our largest Infant Welfare
Centre were artificially fed during the year.
The second method of instruction is by individual teaching given at the
Centres by the Doctors, Health Visitors, Students and by the Dietitian. The
function of the Health Visitor as an advisor has been encouraged during the
year—much of the routine work being undertaken by Students and voluntary
workers. Here again it is essential that the Health Visitor should keep up
to date with recent advances in knowledge, as she may be faced with difficult
problems in child management which require thought and study.
Students, of whom we had 2(i in Shoreditch during the year, also had
practice in this form of teaching, and an attempt was made to train the
students to develop a thoughtful attitude to the work, to be enthusiastic and
to use initiative.