CLOSING THE SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2727, 23 March 1916, Page 4

CLOSING THE SCHOOLS

Numerous suggestions have reached us in lavour of closing the public schools of the district as a safeguard against the further spread of infantile paralysis. The matter has received some attention already, and the idea appears to prevail that because only a few cases of sickness have occurred here amongst children of school age, the closing of the schools would not be justified.' This docs not strike us as a very sound •■■ontontion, The fact that few cases

have yet occurred amongst children attending 'public; schools goes tu show that up to thc present the disease does not appear to have linen spread through the congregating of the children in the school classrooms and playing grounds; but it does not follow that this condition of things will continue. Tho question that calls for attention is whether thc risk that arises from tho gathering together daily in thc schools of large numbers of children Is sufficient to warrant thc closing of tho schools for the time being. Wo do not want to wait until outbreaks in one or more of thc schools have demonstrated thc danger; we. should seek to prevent the possibility of such a happening. The question is really one for the Health Department. Thc Education Board can Only look for guidance in such u. matter U* the medical authorities. Possibly with the advent of cooler weather the epidemic may die out, but; with a total of over 400 cases reported in Auckland, it is plain that no precaution should be overlooked here.