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As showing the influence that Head Teachers may exercise in this
respect and how much good work on behalf of the poorer children some
of them carry out, I may mention that of 148 children examined in one
Infant School in a poor district only 1 child had bad boots. The
remainder were classed as 137 "good," 10 "fair."
In the school referred to a large boot club is run on provident lines
and 300 pairs of boots were supplied to the children during 1910.
The total sum expended was £53 3s. 7d , of which the Head Teacher
provided £8 8s by means of entertainments and donations from
friends.
A central boot fund has recently been established under the control of
the Education Authority, the funds for which will be procured by
voluntary subscriptions and by the aid of entertainments, so that it is
to be hoped our very poorest children everywhere will be in the
future well cared for in this respect.
NUTRITION.
This is a relative condition and difficult to classify, and in drawing
inferences from the findings the personal views of the inspecting doctor
must be known as they largely influence the classification.
Forty-seven children were found whose nutrition was below normal,
and five badly nourished.
These figures are very low ones, showing less than 1 per cent, badly
nourished, and are a great contrast with those of last year and with what
has been recorded elsewhere.
All children likely to be insufficiently fed, owing to the non-employment
of the parents are supplied daily with a good dinner at the
Canteen Centre.
CLEANLINESS OF HEAD AND BODY.
Of the 6,432 children inspected, 46 (girls 39, boys 7) were found to
be verminous, and 909 (girls 805, boys 104) had nits in the hair.
The 909 evidently had recently suffered from vermin, and probably
surprise visits to all schools would prove that a much larger percentage
than that recorded of our poorer girls suffer more or less from head lice.
Among the 354 children seen by me at the request of the Head
Teachers, about 25 per cent, of them were presented for this condition.
The children suspected by the class teachers to be so suffering were
the poorest and most neglected looking, but a large proportion of them
were found to be quite free.
My own experience, as well as the recorded figures prove that there
has been a marked improvement in the general cleanliness of the heads
of all our children.
Very few had vermin on their clothing or bodies.
No prosecutions have been undertaken, and with tact and sympathy
on the part of those engaged in dealing with the children all that is
required can be accomplished.