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their child s disabilities Indeed problems
can be removed before they are manifested
if we can get to know the familv immediately
after diagnosis This is one of the advantages
of having a social worker as a member of the
special unit teams.
Recuperative holidays
During the year the borough council accepted
responsibility under Section 48 of the Education
Act 1944 for the maintenance of 50 children
in recuperative holiday homes Forty five were
admitted to such homes and 4 were cancelled
or withdrawn and 1 was awaiting placement at
the end of the year.
Health education in schools
Every young person has certain basic needs
that are outgrowths of his physiological and
emotional development and also of his mode
of living. These needs should be met
satisfactorily if growth is to proceed in orderly
fashion. It is generally accepted that it is
not enough to do things for the child in the
name of health, He himself should learn at
his level of understanding what these needs
are and should share in efforts for meeting
them.
As a result of a survey carried out during
1969 a pilot health education project in
secondary schools was commenced in Januarv
The pilot project was formulated according
to known needs resources and social conditions
and the actual teaching was planned from the
standpoints of concepts to be developed and
problems to be solved On many aspects of
the programme emphasis was laid on activities
and experience rather than on didactic
instruction.
Five secondary schools were selected to
participate in the pilot project and the teaching
procedure was as follows
The talks were given by the health
education officer who attended each of the
five schools for half a day each week. The
pupils received the talks form by form in their
own classrooms in the presence of their form
teacher. The head teachers also attended one
lecture on each of the five selected subjects
Other people who attended the talks included
doctors the deputy education officer social
workers students from four teacher training
colleges, health visitors and other nursing
staff. When one of the subjects was completed
in any particular school. the next subject was
tackled.
The subjects were
Health hazards associated with cigarette
smoking
The misuse of drugs and alcohol
Positive health the development of good
mental and physical habits and the
emotional needs of the family unit.
The future years marriage sex and the
responsibilities of the adult in society.
Venereal diseases gonorrhoea syphilis
and non specific urethritis.
When the five subjects were completed in
a school the following 16 m.m. colour sound
films were presented.
Boy to Man
Girl to Woman
Drugs and the Nervous System
A Quarter Million Teenagers (concerned
with V D )
The films reinforced the previous teaching
and group discussions and they also enabled
a number of pupils to ask supplementary
questions or submit useful observations.
The head teachers and their staff co operated
fully and throughout the six months project the
health education officer held informal discussions
with individual teachers parents and chiIdren.
Evaluation
Various tests conducted throughout the project
and the interim and final reports submitted by
the head teachers proved that the talks were
well received and that the subject matter was
of considerable interest to teachers parents
and pupils. Many parents reported that it was
only after their children had received the talks
on inter family relationships sex and venereal
diseases that mother and teenage daughter had
been able to discuss certain aspects of health
and mode of living On the other hand children
repeatedly stated that the course of lectures
and discussions had broadened their horizon
and given them valuable insight into personal
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