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37
3. THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE IN RELATION TO PUBLIC
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
School Hygiene.
During the year 1923, a complete survey of the sanitary and
and hygienic conditions pertaining to all the schools of the
Authority has been carried out. Reports upon matters requiring
attention have been submitted month by month to the Committee.
In most instances my recommendations have received careful consideration,
and an endeavour has been made to remedy defects
where possible.
The patiently awaited action of the Local Authority in regard
to the purchase and introduction of modern furniture in the
Elementary Schools has, at last, materialised. The detrimental
effect of the obsolete type of desk upon the physical, and subsequently
upon the mental, condition of the scholars was emphasized
in my report for the year 1912, and the decision recently
arrived at by the Committee is certain to promote further improvement
in the physique of the school children.
The attention of the Committee has been directed towards the
inadequate heating systems in several of the Elementary Schools.
This question is receiving consideration and a satisfactory solution
is anticipated.
4. MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Following the appointment of a male administrative clerk to
the School Medical Section it was considered expedient that he
should have full control of the clerical staff and clerical work
of the Section, since the practice, previously obtaining, whereby
the clerical work was distributed over three departments and
much of it was performed by the medical and nursing staff, did
not appear to be productive of the best results. Any work in
connection with the School Medical Service which was carried
out in other departments naturally took second place to the work
proper of such departments, with the inevitable result that difficulties
and delay frequently arose.