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been ready to give his advice in the case, for instance, of a squinting
child under school age. Indeed, the feeling is engendered and fostered
in the Health Department generally, that each officer shall do what is
necessary, so far as he can, for the young folk of the district, irrespective
of the fact that they may, or may not, have passed their fifth birthday,
and that the attachment of the officers to this, or that section, is
only a matter of financial and administrative expediency.
In the home visitation of infants by the health visitors, cognizance
is taken of matters affecting children attending school, or of school age,
and vice versa, visiting school nurses concern themselves with infants
under school age—their health and environment. Not only does this
arrangement reduce irritability by lessening the number of official
visitors and visits; it broadens the vision and interest of the officers in
the work appertaining to health services.
So closely akin are the two sections, infant welfare and the medical
care of school children, that similar provisions are made for hospital
and convalescent treatment by the respective Committees. These provisions
will be considered in detail under the headings to which they
severally relate.
There are no nursery schools in Tottenham.
SCHOOL HYGIENE.
Surroundings.
In some of the older schools, whose playgrounds have been in use
for a long period, there are depressions, allowing of accumulations of water
in wet weather.
Where the schools are immediately adjacent to a busy thoroughfare,
the noise of the passing heavy traffic causes disturbance to the school
curriculum, and it was pointed out at Page Green School, by one of the
teachers, that between 180 to 200 heavy lorries and other vehicles pass
per hour. Of his scholars he gave the following record, namely:—14:
out of 35 are nailbiters, 4 stammerers, and a number are reported to have
night terrors.
Middle Class School.—The environment of this school is quite unsatisfactory,
having regard to its proximity to a public urinal, a fried
fish shop and a public-house. The playground is small. Discontinuance
of the use of the premises is called for.