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58
12. SCHOOL BATHS.
There are no baths used at the schools for the bathing of
school children.
13. CO-OPERATION OF PARENTS.
Before the Medical Officer commences the examination of
children at any school a notice is sent to the parents intimating
the day and hour of the proposed inspection. This notice is of
such a nature that while it invites the parents to be present at
the examination of their children, it gives them opportunity for
stating objections to examination. Ten years ago such objections
were fairly common—during 1912, 217 parents objected—
but a great improvement in this respect has now set in, and only
very occasionally is the School Medical Officer refused permission
to examine a scholar. Indeed, the advice of the School Medical
Officer is now sought to an embarrassing extent, with the result
that during the present year the clinics grew to dimensions which
seriously affected the performance of the routine medical inspections
at school.
In 1920 the percentage of parents who were present at the
inspections was considerably greater than in any previous year.
This is most gratifying, for without the active interest of the
parents the best results cannot be hoped for. A good deal of
prejudice against school medical inspection has had to be overcome,
but during the last year there have been sessions when
every child was accompanied by one or other parent. This,
however, is not always the case, and it is rather unfortunate that
the parents who do attend are chiefly those who take the greatest
care of their children, and therefore the majority of these are
usually in good health and condition. One would infinitely prefer
an interview with the parents of the weakly and neglected child.
Every parent who does attend, however, lessens the work of the
school nurse in the matter of visiting and allows her to concentrate
her energies on the children whose parents have not been
present at the inspection.