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There has never been any real difference of opinion regarding the desirability
of using the findings of school medical officers as an aid to helping a boy or girl
leaving school to find the employment for which he or she is best suited, but there
have been differences of opinion regarding the way in which this could best be done.
Sir George Newman, writing in The Health of the School Child for the year 1933 gave
certain advice which was considered by the National Advisory Council for Juvenile
Employment, which then expressed the hope that the Board of Education would bring it
to the notice of local education authorities and their medical advisers. In 1935 the
Board issued an Administrative Memorandum saying "The Board agree with the opinion
expressed in their Chief Medical Officer's Report that the most useful form of advice
is in terms related to the specific unsuitability of certain children for particular
types of work, and they hope that local education authorities will be prepared to adopt
the suggestion that a list of such terms should be printed for use by the medical
officer at the last routine examination of the children." It is interesting to note
how with the passage of time the list of "unsuitabilities" has increased. Sir George
Newman first listed 9 then, when Form E.D.211 was used, the number had increased to 13.
Now, the present form (Y.9) which displaced the E.D.211, lists 17.
Some of the limitations to employment are heavy manual work, sedentary work,
exposure to bad weather, work in damp atmosphere, work in dusty atmosphere, work
involving normally acute vision, work involving normal colour vision. Any necessary
investigations and treatment are carried out before a pupil leaves school. In addition
to the Form Y.9a letter is also sent to the Youth Employment Officer amplifying the
information given on the form It is found in practice that limitations are most
frequently recommended on account of eye stain and defective vision; next in order of
frequency are heavy manual work, exposure to bad weather, prolonged standing, much
walking or quick movement from place to place, and work in damp or dusty atmosphere.
Following the passing of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, the Minister
issued a Memorandum dealing with choice of employment for handicapped children. A form
was issued (Y.10) which listed the same 17 unsuitabilities mentioned in the general schoolleaving
medical report and, in addition, a section for recording the nature of the child's
disablement, its probable duration, and its bearing on the obtaining or keeping of suitable
employment. The essential difference between this form (Y.10) and the Y.9 is that the
former contains a section for signature, in appropriate cases, by the parent or guardian and
reads as follows:-
I agree that this report may be sent to the Youth Employment Service. I understand
that the report will be treated as confidential, but that it may be disclosed, if necessary,
to members of a Disablement Advisory Committee, or Panel thereof, if application is made
for registration under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944."
This form is used mainly for children in attendance at the Special Schools, which are visited
each term for the purpose of reviewing the capabilities of the school leavers.