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In addition, the classification adopted by individual school
medical inspectors varies greatly, especially with regard to groups
"A" (Excellent) and "B" (Normal)
Your Committee's School Medical Staff is definitely of the
opinion that the general nutritional condition of children attending
the Public Elementary Schools in the Borough showed slight but
definite improvement during 1936.
Every opportunity has been taken by members of the School
Medical and Public Health Services, Teachers, School Attendance
Officers and others in regular contact with children, to ascertain
and notify those children who are in need of additional feeding.
Your Committee instructed, early in 1936, that copies of the Board's
circular No. 1443 on "The provision of meals for children attending
Public Elementary Schools'' should be sent to every member of
the Teaching staff drawing special attention to clauses 2 and 4.
As suggested in the circular, interim arrangements exist whereby
Head Teachers may arrange for the immediate grant of milk meals,
these recommendations being confirmed by referring the children
to the school clinic or to the next medical inspection or re-inspection.
The methods of combating malnutrition are, briefly:—
1. Advice at medical inspection and re-inspections.
2. Nutritional surveys of each school after medical
inspection.
3. Provision of milk meals (2/3rds pint for medical cases).
4. Provision of mid-day meals.
5. Admission of severe cases to open Air School.
6. School Camps.
7. Convalescent home treatment.
The following extracts are taken from the Head Teacher's
letter with regard to the findings at the medical inspection of the
school:—
''The general impression obtained was that the children were
suffering from want of sleep and fresh air, due to time spent out
of school hours in cinemas, gymnasiums, dancing classes, etc.,
instead of in airy bedrooms.
"A little propaganda work among parents generally, to see
that their children had plenty of fresh air and retired at an early
hour might do much for the health of the rising generation. I have
seized every opportunity for putting in a word on this matter.
"The provision of a safe place for children to play without
possible molestation from undesirable people would be another
achievement worth while.