The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 3, 1915. THE UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2451, 3 May 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 3, 1915. THE UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN

A satisfactory indication that the Hon. J. Allen is moving on right lines in proposing to co-ordinate the work of medical inspection and that of physical, instruction in the public schools is supplied in the annual report of the_ Wellington Education Board, whioh expresses tho opinion that the office of Uhief Medioal -Inspector and that of Chief Inspector of Physical /Education should bo combined. This is on all fours with the proposal. tentatively advanced by the Minister. References in the Board's report to medical inspection and physioal instruction are in other respects arresting. The inspection so fa-r t carried out has disclosed a somewhat disquieting prevalence of physical defects in the children attending the district schools, and while the system of graded exercises appears to be already bearing good fruits, it is evident that other remedial measures are necessary if satisfactory standards of health and physical fitness are to be ensured in ohildren of sohool age. The educational authorities appear to have the problem well in hand, though they are still working on its outer edge, and no doubt the prospective co-or-dination of the work of medical inspection and physical instruction will lead up eventually to the establishment of a system of State medical assistance, ■ Such a system will constitute a'natural adjunot to the physical instruction already in vogue whioh is primarily intended to improve the health and fitness of children in general. This, however, is not in itself enough. No one oan read the reports of the medical inspectors without _ feeling that there is a call for action on the part of parents as well as on that of the State. Medical aid by the State will be of the utmost value in cases where straitened means forbid its being otherwise-obtained, but it is pretty clear from the reports that poverty is neither the only nor the principal cause tending to produce avoidable physical defects in children. The outstanding feature of the reports seems to be that more or less avoidable defects in children are widely prevalent in a population which is largely free from the.evils of acute poverty, This is an aspect of the problem* upon which a great deal more should be heard from technical experts, for until it has been shown just how far. parental failure is responsible for the existing prevalence of physical defects in children, it is impossible to arrive at any just estimate of the measure of State aid which tho situation demands. It is already fairly clear that carelessness-or Jack of knowledge, or both, on the part of parents are at anyrate contributing factors in pro-; during the evils disolosed in the reports of the medical inspectors of schools. This seems to point to the necessity_ for a campaign which would aim at the instruction of parents in the best methods of rearing and caring for children, and at wakening in their minds a proper appreciation of their responsibilities where children are concerned, Convincing proof is' furnished in the reports of the medical inspectors that such a campaign is necessary in the case of a .proportion of the parents. The matter is one which might very well command attention at the meetings of householders which are to be held tonight for the_ purpose of electing school committees. These bodies would perform a very useful public servicc by inaugurating aj campaign on behalf of better and more efficient parenthood.- Such a campaign would -admirably round off the developing efforts-of tho State on behalf of the physical welfare of tho child. Lectures by medical men and women to assembled bodies of parents should not be difficult to arrange, and something might bo accomplished also by the distribution of books and leaflets. Until some such enterprise is undertaken efforts by the State on behalf of child welfare must be much hampered and to a certain extent set at naught. No very useful end will bo achieved hv dpctorinsr ailing and clefect-ive children while the conditions of thoir home environment, .whicfi have' produced these ills, arc allowed to continue unattacked. On the other hand any. definite improvement ip standards of parenthood and spread of knowledge concerning rational methods in' the care, nurture, and general upbringing of children will ncces'Jttrily entail, a permanent improvement in their health and phy-

sique. It will reduce to a minimum the amount of aid which it is essential the State should render in order to as far as possible make good the shortcomings of the home environment of the children. Magnificent work has been accomplished in this country by the Plunket Society, which devotes itself mainly to the welfare of children at the stage of infancy. It now seems possible that an equally fine work might be achieved by an educational campaign in the interests of children of sohool age.