HEALTH IN THE SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2987, 26 January 1917, Page 6

HEALTH IN THE SCHOOL

CONFERENCE OF MEDICAL INSPECTORS. A conference of medical inspectors of schools lias been in session for the past two weeks. Those present were: Dr. Ada Paterson, Dr. Eleanor Barker, Dr. Elizabeth Macdonald, Dr. Margaret M'Cahon. The subjects-discussed related to the welfare of children, especially in school life. A report by Dr. Macdonald of the Australasian, Conference of Medical Inspectors recently held in Sydney was also discussed. Open-air teaching, building of new schools, and extension of existing schools on the open air plan were approved of and recommended. Tlie need for further physical education was strongly emphasised. The present system of corrective classes, it was considered, should be extended. The interest and co-operation of parents should he secured by frequent meetings for mothers, and the use of school nursos, to form a linlc between the school and tlm home. It was considered to be exceedingly important that parents should realise the necessity for long hours of riuici refreshing sleep for yomy* children. Interesting information was given as to the actual attendance of school children at picture shows. The moral and nervous effect involved made an interesting discussion. The conference was unanimously in favour of co-education of the sexes throughout the primary schools. The best means of attacking the nroblom'of the feeble-minded. ; 11ndurished and physical defective children' was nlso discussed at length.