View report page

10
Dr. Broderick reports:—"During the past year the nutrition
of the school children in the area has continued to improve, a
noticeable feature being the diminished number in the slightly
subnormal group "C."
"At the various inspections and clinics special attention is
given to debilitated and under-nourished children.
"The milk in schools scheme aided, when necessary, with free
dinners and tonics containing the appropriate vitamins bring about
an improvement in height and weight and general physique and
well-being. The physical training, open-air school and convalescent
home treatment have, too, played their part.
"Talks on the necessity of well-balanced diets are constantly
given. The importance of fresh air and personal hygiene is also
stressed.
"In addition, the various specialist clinics have done much to
improve and maintain the health of physically defective children.
"The 'Contact' clinic controls the spread of debilitating
infectious diseases, and the immunising scheme against diphtheria
has greatly reduced its incidence.
"Better housing, the care of the pre-school child at the Welfare
Centre and Nursery School tend to bring a healthier pupil into the
'Entrants' group.
"Bearing in mind the excellent facilities available, there is
every reason to assume a further improvement in nutrition."
Dr. M. Clarke reports:—"It is gratifying to be able to state
with assurance that the improvement in the nutrition and general
health of our school children, noted in the School Medical Officer's
report for 1937. has been well maintained during the past year.
"In my opinion this is in large measure due to the increased
consumption of milk, the excellent dinners provided at the Nursery
School, Special Schools and Canteens, the Open Air School, the
more intelligent interest taken by the parents in what constitutes
a rational diet for the growing child, and, lastly and a factor of
the greatest importance, the increased time and attention given to
physical training in the schools.
"The Open Air School in particular has enabled us to give
many children suffering from ill-defined failure of health a chance
of making a good recovery with the minimum of interference with
their education.