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2
INTRODUCTION.
School Medical Department,
Town Hall,
Tottenham.
March, 1924.
To the Chairman and other Members of the Tottenham
Education Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Annual Report for 1923 is not expected by the Board of
Education to be of a discursive nature. In concise form, chiefly tabular,
the nature and amount of the work will be indicated.
Although there has been no extension of the School Medical Services
during 1923, plans have been laid and preliminary measures taken to
consolidate all the Health Services of the district coming within the
purview of the Council. When these measures have been brought to
their full activity, they will result in considerable economy and an
enhanced degree of efficiency.
It is within the knowledge of your Committee that there are a
considerable number of small private schools in the district. These cater
for young children mostly, and the living rooms of private dwellings are
made to serve the purpose of school rooms. As, of course, the main object of
these establishments is to earn money, and, as statute does not definitely
prescribe the air space to be provided in respect of each school child,
there is the inducement to pack these rooms with scholars of tender
years. In addition, these houses are without lavatory and W.C. accommodation
for school purposes, and I recommend the Committee to urge
in the proper direction, that these schools be brought oompulsorily under
the supervision of the Local Elementary Education Authority, whose
powers should extend to licensing or disapproving for school purposes
premises other than school buildings.
•
The health of the school children is well maintained and the vigilance
of your medical staff is such that there appears to be no reason why
every child suffering from any defect should not receive the treatment
necessary for its malady. The clinics provided by your Committee and