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51
knowledge and giving the means whereby that knowledge can
be put into practice.
Staff — In-Service Training
It was quickly realised that in order to keep up to date with
current information, new methods and techniques, meetings
should be held to exchange ideas, to comment and question, to
evaluate. Although there are difficulties concerned with the
attendance of staff at meetings, we are glad that occasionally
courses can be held which have been well attended. Ono
example was the course for Home Helps held once a week over
a period of six weeks and the ahort courses for child minders
and day nursery superintendents. Their effectiveness was
shown by the questions that were asked and the exchange of
information from each other.
Mass Media
Display boards have been constructed and set up at. clinics
where this was necessary, and supplies of posters and publicity
material sent out on a regular monthly basis. The display of
posters has continued at local underground stations and on
public notice boards snd in all the Borough Libraries.
The local press has also assisted in publicising particular
health problems and drawing attention of the importance of
preventive medicine as a public health measure.
Summary
At least twenty-three junior schools and twelve secondary
schools in the Borough have received a course of health talks
and discussions and in many cases these courses are an
integral part of the school syllabus.
There has been a continuing increase in requests from
teachers for information — for speakers on specific health
topics and for visits to the various departmental establishments
such as day nurseries and old people's homes and
clinics.
Although the Interest in health education has continued to
increase in girls' schools, we hope that these courses will
soon become an integral part of the syllabus in boys' schools.
Whilst talks and group discussions dealing with personal
relationships are of value, there is no doubt that they raise
questions and possibly anxieties within the minds of those
young people who perhaps are more reticent and more sensitive
than their classmates. They may be in a dilemma, bewildered
at Society's rather rigid attitude on the one hand, and permis-