HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 613, 16 September 1909, Page 3

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

■ . ■ Auckland board. . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, September 15. .At to-day's meeting of tho Auckland Education Board a letter was received from the District Health Officer (Dr. l'urdy) calling attention to the importance of a moro thorough system of school cleaning being introduced. Dr. Purdy said that it was now recognised that school dust was a dangerous factor in spreading infection. By analysis, tho dust in schools had been found to be impregnated with pus cocci—the cause of scarlet fever and erysipelas —the bacilli of tuberculosis—tho organism suspected to cause whooping cough—and the bacilli which causes diphtheria. It it were Fusible to keep schools fairly clean by' daily cleaning, supplemented by routiiio disinfection, it would be better 1 economically and educationally, and bo more in the interests of general'health tliau the present lack of a general systcih of cleaning. , Mr/ Gtlrland said that ho thought that the best that could bo dono was being done in the town schools. It would mean .additional'expense. if the suggestions made WQro given effect to. A gallon of sheep dip, only costing ss„ ought to keep' a largo school going for twelve months.: The carelessness and slovenli.ness in some cases ■ were deplorable,; however, and thero were cases where teachers set very bad examples, and where fhc inspectors found slovenly teachers the sooner they pulled them up.the better. Tho matter was referred to tho Executive Committco for a report. .