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76
The School Saving Scheme which was proposed and
organised by the Head Teachers in the Schools has been a
considerable help to enrolment. One hundred and fifty one
enrolment fees were saved under this scheme. Thirty-six were
not used for enrolment and were returned, but 115 children,
that is 43% of the total number who enrolled in the After-Care
Scheme, benefited by this scheme.
At the Annual General Meeting of Practitioners engaged in
the Scheme, held in January, 1938, after much discussion and
consideration, it was decided to adopt the Managing Committee's
resolution " That the Scheme be closed to new members
after the Christmas 1937 leaving period."
The Committee's decision was chiefly influenced by the fact
that the type of child for whom the scheme was devised was not
taking advantage of it and that the reasons for this failure and
methods for counteracting it were beyond the Committee's
control. The opinion of the Committee as to the possibilities
of the scheme may be summarised as follows :
'' As far as the provision of dental treatment is concerned,
the Scheme is good, except for the inadequacy of the fee. It
has worked smoothly for five years and should continue to do
so until its completion, but, in view of the fact that it has to do
with young persons, immature morally and intellectually, from
a class up to the present woefully lacking in dental conscience,
such a scheme should be supported by some lay organisation.
The Committee would prefer that this organisation should be
the employers or, failing that, After-Care Visitors, who would
continue to exercise the disciplinary influence, formerly exerted
by the teachers, from which the child is abruptly liberated and
which parental authority, for a variety of reasons, appears to
be incapable of replacing adequately."
This last report on an interesting experiment would not be
complete without a most grateful acknowledgement of the debt
which the district owes to the practitioners who made it a
working proposition and who supported it loyally and generously
for five years. It is greatly to be regretted that the Scheme
should have been killed by the indifference of those whom it was
designed to benefit, but, to quote speakers at the meeting, it
has not died in dishonour. It has been widely acknowledged
as a pioneer effort, and has aroused interest both in England and
Scotland. Information has been acquired which may be of
future interest, and towns who have asked for details of our