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80
The medical inspection of all the children (Article 58 Code) has been
tully carried out, but the work arising out of it is of such magnitude
that the present permanent Clerical and Health-Visiting Staff is
inadequate and must be strengthened, and more office accommodation,
with suitable rooms for school purposes, provided.
Under existing conditions the work is hampered.
With slight modifications of forms and schedules used in the Office
and for the Schools, the organisation and routine of the work were
similar to 1909.
In all the Provided Schools new school registers are now in use, with
spacing before each child's name for recording previous illnesses as well
as defects found on medical inspection.
The registers must facilitate the work of the teachers in selecting the
children for examination, and in carrying out the instructions given as
to individual scholars. It ought to be no longer possible to present
the same child twice within a year to the doctor if the registers are
properly kept—except, of course, for special reasons.
There has been in 1910 a noticeable uniformity of co-operation on
the part of all the head teachers in the work of medical inspection,
and to the teachers and their influence with the parents we are
indebted for much of the remedial work carried out.
I think, in all future inspections, the head teachers, other duties
permitting, should be present with the doctor. Heretofore they have
not been invited, the examination being looked upon as private and
confidential.
The teacher occupies the position of parent in school hours, and
there can be no objection to—in fact, there is much reason for —his or
her presence.
The teacher is the best coadjutor to the school doctor, and by
becoming familiar with those conditions indicating, or suspicious of,
disease, will be the more capable of exercising a useful supervision over
the children in the absence of the doctor. The head teacher by being
present at the inspections will be interested at the starting-point, and
knowing the reason for the doctor's advice and instructions, will the
more readily co-operate in the carrying out of them in the children's
interests.
In the girls' schools a nurse would hardly be then required, and that
official thus relieved could visit or engage in other work.
The number of parents present at the inspections was slightly less
than in 1909, the falling off being at the boys' and girls' schools.
Altogether 3,392 were present, and thus a great number of mothers
had a useful object lesson in the work performed, and had the benefit
of the doctor's advice regarding their children.