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and it may be stated that every ease is re-examined by the
School Medical Officers, or visited by the nurses at home when
the parents can be interviewed.
Open-air Education:—Arrangements for open-air education
are made by class teachers who, in summer, give instruction
in the playgrounds of the schools.
Physical Training:—This important part of the school
curriculum is entirely in the hands of the teachers, except
inasmuch as the School Medical Officers indicate individual
scholars for whom certain drills or exercises are unsuited.
Provision of Meals:—No special provision of meals by
the Authority is necessary under Sections 82-86 of the Education
Act, 1921. Necessitous and debilitated children, however,
are granted extra nourishment in the form of milk and
similar food stuffs by the Committee on the recommendation
of the Medical Officers.
School Baths:—In addition to the use of the Public Baths
by school children for swimming instruction, the Baths Committee
grants special terms (one penny) to school children
desiring hot baths, including the provision of soap and clean
towels. Great use is made of this opportunity.
Co-operation of Parents, Teachers, Attendance Officers,
etc.:—64% of the parents attend the Routine Inspections.
Practically every child attending the Inspection and
Dental Clinics is accompanied by the parent, and the
parents also attend the treatment clinic in many cases. Close
co-operation is maintained with school teachers, attendance
officers, and with the different Voluntary Welfare Societies,
and the thanks of the medical inspection department are due
to those who have assisted us on all occasions.
Defective Children (a) Mentally Defective: During
the year the School Medical Officer paid special visits to all
schools to receive progress reports on cases under observation,
and to examine new cases. 27 new cases and 116 old cases
were reviewed. 22 cases were specially tested by the Binet
Simon method. 8 children were admitted to the Special
School. At the end of the year, 101 children remain under
observation.
This system of keeping children under observation in
public elementary schools before passing definitely into a
special school for mentally defective children is undoubtedly
the most satisfactory and fairest way, although it adds considerably
to the work. Children do not progress educationally
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