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82
SCHOOL MEDICAL INSPECTIONS.
The arrangements for the routine medical inspection of all
school children as required by Section 48, of the Education Act,
1944, have proved very satisfactory and it was possible in addition
to carry out the biennial examination agreed upon by the Council.
Attention may be focussed on several points, the better to
assist in improving the service and in evaluating its results.
The presence of parents at these inspections is cordially
welcomed and it is satisfactory to report that despite the largenumber
who are in employment, 71.6% of parents attended in all
age groups and 93.5% in the first group. These figures compare
with 60.8% and 87.1% for 1947.
There has been little change in the provision of adequate
accommodation and suitable equipment for the proper conduct
of medical inspections in school. It must be insisted that a classroom
with the distraction of lessons going on all round, is not the
most suitable place for the physical and mental assessment of the
scholars.
Comment must be made on the attitude of a proportion of
mothers towards their children during the examination. Too often
the parent tries to transpose her own head on to the child's shoulders
and answer questions obviously put to the latter with a set purpose.
This may arise from the fear of the mother that the child will fail
or, more often, prolongation of the phase of protection, associated
and partly necessary in the pre-school mother-child relationship.
Parents must be taught to be rid of their fears, and to encourage
independence in their children, and this can begin with the first
medical examination for entrance to school.
Further, emphasis can be laid on the good physical condition
of many new entrants to school coupled with good personal hygiene
in the care of skin, hair, teeth and nails and considerable improvement
in the standard of shoes and clothing.