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THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE IN RELATION TO
PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
(3) School Hygiene.
School Teachers report to the School Medical Officer any
insanitary conditions arising in the schools or their immediate
environs. Certain complaints are investigated by the Public
Health Department, while structural defects relating to heating,
lighting or ventilation are referred to the Committee's Architect,
Mr. J. H. Jacques, to deal with. During the year an increased
incidence of Diphtheria at two schools was investigated by the
Public Health staff and the scholars then examined by the School
Medical staff and the carrier cases discovered and treated. The
desks in use are of the modern dual type, and as opportunity
arises box desks are being gradually substituted for older children,
and chairs and tables for the younger children. The schools,
classrooms, and cloakrooms are cleaned by an efficient staff of
cleaners under the direction of the School Caretaker. Head
Teachers see to the drying of children's clothes when required.
The question of meals at schools hardly arises, as the children
are within easy reach of their homes. A certain number of
necessitous children daily attend the School Feeding Centres.
In the Special Schools, however, where the children come
from all parts of the Borough, proper arrangements are made
for the provision of hot meals.
(4) Medical Inspection.
For the purposes of the School Medical Service, the whole
Borough is sub-divided into five areas; each separate area is
allocated to an Assistant School Medical Officer with his Nurses,
and served by a Clinic. The schools in each area are visited in
rotation, the Head Teacher sending out beforehand notices to
parents informing them of the Inspection, according to an arranged
programme. These notices expressly urge the presence of the
parents at the examination.
At the end of a School Inspection Head Teachers are informed
(by a written list) of those special defects found which need their
attention, or which are liable to have a bearing on the child's
educational career.
Arrangements have been made for those Scholars who are
absent from school during routine Medical Inspection at the
school to be examined elsewhere at an early date.
(a) The "age groups" inspected throughout the schools
are:—
(1) Children admitted to school for the first time during
the year (entrants).
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