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After obtaining parental consent, skin swabs were taken from twelve
specified sites on the skin of 200 pupils attending two secondary schools
in the Borough. Though the numbers tested were very small statistically,
the preliminary results showed enough evidence to suggest marked
differences in the micrococcus floras' of boys and girls. In view of this,
it was considered that the survey would have to be repeated, in order to
extend the number of subjects. Approval was, therefore, obtained to test
children in two other schools and arrangements made for this to be carried
out early in 1966, when detailed results will be reported.
HEALTH EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
The Health Education Officer, together with the health visitors,
continued with the programme of health education projects in schools
during the year. Special classes were arranged in some of the secondary
schools for school leavers. The basic theme of the course was Home
Making and included features on mothercraft, general health, personal
hygiene and budgeting. The underlying aim of the course was to help
girls to realise more fully their responsibilities as the future wives and
mothers of the nation. In addition, special classes in child care were
organised for several groups of girls who were preparing for the Duke
of Edinburgh's Award. Advisory visits to the schools by health visitors
in cases of outbreaks of minor infections are used to good advantage from
the health teaching point of view.
The Health Education Officer gave several talks on a variety of subjects,
such as general environmental health, food hygiene, clean food,
water supply and sewage disposal, making use of film strips and films
to illustrate salient points. Instructional visits were also made to Water
Works and Sewage Disposal Works to illustrate vividly the points already
made in the lectures.
It is pleasing to report what could be described as a practical exercise
in health education. A new home for the elderly was opened in the Borough
in June 1965, and was "adopted" by the girls of a local secondary school.
Several of these girls have made regular weekly visits to the home and have
made themselves extremely useful and helpful, carrying out a variety of
tasks in the home. Their assistance has been very much appreciated by all,
especially the elderly residents—to my mind a good start in helping in a
problem which is growing in size and importance daily, viz., the care of
the elderly!
EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN
Under Section 59 of the Education Act 1944, education authorities
are empowered to prohibit or restrict the employment of a child if they
consider it would be prejudicial to his health or otherwise render him
unfit to obtain the full benefit of the education provided for him.
All children must, therefore, be medically examined before taking up
employment.
Number of children examined and found fit for employment
during 1965 459