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75
Miss Richards, Head Teacher, contributes the following report:
' 'The early part of the year 1936 showed a better attendance
with a steadier increase than the previous year, and with a comparatively
clean bill of health up to the middle of March when a
large percentage of the children developed measles. It is interesting
to record that most of these cases developed during, or after, the
Easter holiday, so that it is reasonable to suppose that, had the
children been able to remain at school in the open air (instead of
in the closer proximity to infection in their homes) during the
Easter holiday, probably fewer cases would have occurred.
' 'Though it is very regrettable that measles cannot be kept
out of an open air school (where the chances of infection are considerably
less than in a closed-in school), one cannot help realising
that the children appear to have less severe attacks and recover
more quickly. In view of the occurrence of measles, the attendance
during April, May and June was consequently poor, but showed
considerable improvement during June and onwards to November.
' 'During November several cases of whooping cough and a good
deal of influenza occurred which have resulted in a poor attendance
during the early part of 1937.
"It is also very regrettable that the school is not full; with
the exception of two weeks in June, when the enrolment rose to
165, there have been more vacancies than in former years.
' 'Under the new arrangement the children are now medically
examined once a term (i.e; three times a year). In October of
1936, when Dr. Clarke medically inspected the children, she appeared
pleased with the general condition of health of the children, but
recommended certain additional aids to building up the health in
certain instances.
"The children are weighed every month by the Head Teacher,
and a careful chart is kept of the weight and height of each child.
On the whole the children have shown a steady increase in weight,
though losses occur in certain instances (which can frequently be
accounted for if the child has had an illness, or undergone an
operation, etc.). If a child loses weight two months in succession,
the mother is advised to consult the school clinic doctor or her own
doctor; but persistent loss in weight is very rare. When recommended
on medical grounds, children receive cod liver oil emulsion
during the winter months.
' 'One cannot help feeling that the lack of real summer weather
and absence of sunlight during 1936 is responsible for much of the