HEALTH IN THESCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 23 November 1912, Page 6

HEALTH IN THESCHOOL

HON. JAS. ALLEN AT WANGANUI, PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. (By Telegraph.—Spoclal Correspondent.) Wanganui, November 22. The Hon. J»s. Allen, who visited Wangomri yesterday in his official capaci.tyias Minister for Education had a bitty tinio during his stay. Ho received deputations on educational matters yesterday, and this morning inspected the various secondary and primary schools. Ho remarked particularly on tho value of personal visits by Ministers, saying that ho had learned more, and got a better idea of tho district's requirements than, he could ovor have learned from documents and reports. Somo remarks which foil from the Minister during his stay were of special interest, particularly thoso indicating the policy of the Government in matters educational. . Health in the School. Speaking at a reception tendered by the Education Board, he said that they, had nevor yet in New Zealand made a party question of education, and every "member of the House was keenly desirous of making our educational System good and secure. Ho realised that unless they reared up a sound and strong race, intellectually and physically, they could not hope to succeed and prosper as they should do. Education was the basis of success. Ho recognised that ho was handicapped, aa Miniver for Education, by having other duties. Tho position was offered him by Mr. Massey, and ho took it not unwillingly, because he had always been interested in educational problems, and before he gavo up the portfolio would like to have an opportunity of doing something really radical in "tho cause of education.' At present they , were making a chango so far as physical education was concerned, and had appointed a physical instructor in the person' of Mr. R. Garlick, in Wellington, with 10 or 12 assistants under, him. Four medical officers also had been appointed to inspect tho school children, and aided by these the Government hoped to put the physical education of children upon a better basis. Ho quite recognised that unless children were reared in the very earliest stages under tho best conditions, they could not expect expert results. He had seen excellent results of physical instruction at the Grammar School in Auckland, where the children had been greatly improved. Some, who were below the normal standard, had been brought up to that standard purely By physical training, and he was anxious to see the system extended. Education, continued Mr. Allen, was an expensive undertaking for the State, and the Department might 'not be able to frant all the requests that camo before it. He believed that' the right policy was to put up substantial buildings that would last for many years to come, and one of the difficulties was, in growing towns, to~secure sites in proper localities. In the past, mistakes bad been made in this respect, and these were being rectified. It was difficult to know sometimes where the Department ■ ought to secure sites and to build'schools.. He hoped, however, that the difficulties would bo solved so that in the competition which must take place we .should, do our best to come out on top. School Children's Teeth. The Minister also made an important statement to the deputation which waited on him regarding the medical and dental inspection of school children. Tlio members of thfe deputation stated that perhaps the majority of parents knew, as it was, of the children's physical and dental defects, but the trouble was that there were so many people whose circumstances did not permit them to pay for having these remedied. The heavy charges of dentists were particularly mentioned, and though appreciation was expressed of the Departments efforts, it- was contended that the Department should '"do 'something more than tell the parents what many of them already knew. The Minister was therefore asked to consider the advisability of jfranting some assistance to' working people so 'as to enable them to have their children properly attended to. Thie Minister, in reply, said that he fully realised the importance of the subject, and also realised its magnitude. He admitted the force of what had been said, but all the. Government could do at present was to find out the facts connected with the health and welfare of the children, and thus be in a position to let parents know their children's condition. To carry out the suggestion of the deputation would entail a very large staff, and great expense. He thought, however, - that the- Public Health Department ought to be able to make some arrangement with the hospital boards throughout the Dominion, whereby the children might be treated for their teeth, as they were treated for other troubles. In Dunedin, some such system was in vogue, and there tho dental school treated a great many children for nothing. He hoped, before many years went by, that the Government' would be able to do something to relieve parents who could not afford to pay dentists' fees. He re-, minded the deputation that tho Government had no right to interfere with the legitimate occupation of i'he dentists, and with peoplf who could afford to pay for their children. Parents should not be divested from all parental responsibility, and, after all, any sacrifice they made on behalf of tlipir children would be recompensed by tho improved health of their offspring. He could only assure the deputation that the subject would not be forgotten.