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X.
of each individual child during its School life. I am Utopian enough to believe
that some time in the future this will be done in every Elementary School in
the country, and that the Government grant will be based just as much on the
physical progress of the child as it now is on the mental. It is of course impossible
now, and absolutely out of the question here, but the importance of
such a survey has been recognised by the highest authorities both as a " means
for ascertaining the facts of National physique and the means that may be
adopted for its improvement, and for retarding such deterioration as may be in
progress."
For the present all that could be aimed at in this direction in this
district would be a very general inspection, intended in the first instance for
the weeding-out of the unfit, and the selection of certain children for subsequent
more detailed examination. Later on it might be possible for each
child to be examined at least once with some care, and possibly the best
time for this would be when it passed from the infant department into the
Schools. A skilled medical examiner can satisfy himself in a very few
minutes that a child has no special defect, and the details of height and
chest measurement, and even a rough but fairly accurate test of the sight
can be made and entered in the record by a non-medical assistant, such as
a junior teacher, acting under instruction.
(2). The special examination of the abnormal and unhealthy would deal
with two classes of cases, apart from those coming under the third heading.
One of these includes those children suffering from defects of eyesight, weak
heart, etc., which I have already considered. The other, children affected
with Ringworm, Itch and verminous heads, and those in a condition of
general uncleanliness.
Ringworm and parasites in the hair or skin are difficult conditions to
deal with, because the cure demands energetic treatment, and the mere fact
that the parent has sent the child to school suffering from a condition not
requiring skilled observation to detect proves in most cases that the parent
is negligent.
The method to be adopted in this district with regard to such cases
would require careful consideration. The necsssity of doing something is so
obvious that I need not insist on it here. The question is referred to at
some length in the Report (Vol. 1, pages 24 and 25, pars. 94, 95 and 96).