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"Most medical authorities agree that the child in the infant
school should have 11 to 12 hours unbroken sleep; in the junior
school 10 to 11 hours, and in the senior schools, 9 to 10 hours.
As will be seen by the above table, of 440 infant school children
investigated, 29 or 6.5 percent. habitually went to bed later than
8 p.m. In the junior schools, of 1,560 children investigated,
157 or 10 percent. habitually went to bed later than 9 o'clock.
In the senior and central schools, of 2,020 children investigated,
107 or 5.2 percent. habitually went to bed later than 10 p.m.
That 131 children habitually went to bed at 10.30 p.m. and later
suggests parental negligence.
"It is generally agreed that the London school child is better
nourished, better cared for in personal cleanliness and in better
health generally than ever before.
"The average parent, is, as a rule, well informed as to the vital
importance of good food, exercise and fresh air for the well-being
and development of the growing child, but seems to be less wellinformed
as to the equal importance of a sufficiency of sleep and
its effect upon the general health, and it is only by persistent
supervision and advice that we can secure for the growing child
an adequate amount of rest. I wish to express appreciation of
the help given by the Head Teachers who assisted me in this
investigation.''
23. MISCELLANEOUS.
Dental Demonstrations.—The Dental Exhibit provided by the
Dental Board of the United Kingdom was demonstrated to 27
Departments over a period of 10 school days. Lady demonstrators
gave simple talks on Dental Hygiene and explained the exhibit,
which consisted of a series of models showing the development and
eruption of the teeth, their structure and the diseases to which they
are liable.