CLOSING SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 8

CLOSING SCHOOLS

AJAX.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Can there be any possible justification' for the action, of :the Health Department in allowing the'majority of schools in the Wellington City area to ' remain open •' while : every indication of a further outbreak of infantile paralysis exists here? 'I fail to': comprehend the wisdom of awaiting each "case" before the closing c.f a school, which is quite at variance with .the Department's prompt decision: to close all schools in Wellington and elsewhere in December last althoughl the outbreak of this dreaded disease was located in Dunedin. .-,'■ ' /■ ■■

Surely parents can be relied upon, to exercise every care .and ■ precaution for their children if away.from school, and, as the dangers to which hundreds of children may be exposed through contact with a suspect could be avoided,' why is it necessary for the Department to hesitate to issue the order. The youngsters must: be spared their geography, history, languages, etc., arid the tiny tots their, singing, if their future is:not. to ..be endangered. Their health,, the use, of their limbs, their very life is more vital than the loss of a mere few weeks of schooling, Mr. Semple, as 'Transport Minister, did not hesitate to apply measures which he considered might help to reduce road mortality and I, fancy we all agree: that, infantile paralysis,, if approaching epidemic form, calls for ibstant action; public opinion, demands it.—.-I am, etc., ; ' :■•'' ■ / . 7, . SE, DEFENDENDO... .