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connection with medical inspection is, by the wish of the Education
Committee, reduced to a minimum. The preparation of cards,
weighing, measuring and so on being performed by the staff of the
Health Department. Similarly as regards following-up and the
securing of medical treatment, with few exceptions the teachers
do not concern themselves, mainly, it may be supposed, because
they are not encouraged by the Committee to manifest any interest
in the defects found, or aid in prevailing upon the parents to have
them remedied.
It would be a great help were the Committee to give instructions
for each Head Teacher to be furnished with a medical log book,
wherein might be entered the names of children in whom defects
were found, and authorise a periodical muster of them and their
parents for the purpose of questioning as to why medical treatment
had not been forthcoming. By the adoption of some such plan
considerable benefit should result, for teachers as a rule wield
great influence with the parents of their charges, and can often
achieve results when others fail.
CO-OPERATION OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OFFICERS.
In this district there are three Attendance Officers, and they
have entr6 to the Health Department where they can ascertain
the health status and fitness for school of any particular child.
The function of these Oflicers is to maintain attendances, consequently
they take no part in aiding the work of medical
inspection, nor do they engage in following-up save in the recovery
of fees for the treatment of Tonsils or Adenoids or for the supply
of glasses, but they do render valuable help in securing treatment
for children absent from school for alleged medical reasons. If
there is no doctor in attendance and the parent is unwilling to
seek one, the case is referred to one of the School Clinics and a
report is rendered to the Secretary of the Education Committee.
Again, in instances where children are absent on account of sore
throats or because of some rash, prompt reports by the Attendance
Officers have frequently directed attention to early cases of
infectious disease.