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16
If orthodontic work is to be effectually carried out, it must be
done by the School Dentist acting on the advice of the consulting
Orthodontist at the Dental Hospital, who could prescribe the
necessary treatment in the way of extractions and/or appliances.
This then could be carried out by the local School Dentist.
Open Air Education.
There is no open air school in the district, the only open air
education being comparatively few classes held in the playground
in the summer. There is a great demand for an open air school,
as there are a considerable number of children who could attend
such a school, with benefit from the point of view of education
and also from the point of view of their physical well-being due
to the proper feeding, rest, etc., which form such an important
part of an open air school curriculum. There are a considerable
number of border-line cases that it is very difficult at present to
deal with. They cannot attend an ordinary day school and hope
to cope with its curriculum. Their power of concentration is sadly
lacking, and one feels that on the whole, the child is better running
about in the fresh air, and even mud larking under what might
be supposed to be far from ideal conditions, than sapping what
energy it has by attempting to cope with the school curriculum.
The presence of these children in a class also makes the work of
a teacher infinitely harder, as they are apt to be a disturbing
element amongst the normal children.
PHYSICAL TRAINING.
There is no Area Organiser of Physical Training for the
elementary schools in the district. Whatever is done is on the
initiative of the teachers, but the School Medical Officers are not
consulted, save as to fitness or otherwise of a particular child to
engage in drill.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
The systematic provision of meals to school children was not
undertaken during the year, and there is no machinery for enabling
delicate school children to obtain milk and cod liver oil either free
or at moderate prices. Such a scheme would greatly benefit many