CARE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

Evening Star, Issue 23690, 25 September 1940, Page 7

CARE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

medical attention and PHYSICAL TRAINING STATE SCHEME MUCH ENLARGED [Pee United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 2-1. A big change in the system of modical • inspection and care of all school children and greatly improved physical training are two of the major features of educational .reform planned by the Government under the guidance of the Minister of Education (Hon. H. G. R. Mason). Details of what the Government is now. doing and intends to do to improve the welfare of , the children in its care in all schools throughout the Dominion were given by the Minister to throe schools which he visited in Christchurch' to-day. They were listed by the Minister as follows: . . The Minister explained that every endeavour had been made by the department to have_ free issues of milk for the children in all schools. This had not yet been accomplished, b ut was a long way towards achievement. Where fresh milk was not available malted milk was given, and bad proved a good substitute. Careful tests and examinations had been made of the effects of the milk issue, and _ now it was no longer a matter of opinion, but cad definitely been proved that the children were very much • better through being given milk. .More dental nurses were being trained, the Minister said, in the big new training school recently opened in Wellington. The dental services now available were extensive, but they had to be improved, and soon there would be considerably more nurses to attend to the dental treatment of a great many inore children. The Minister emphasised that the department he controlled intended to improve very greatly the. facilities for the physical training of all school children. All Governments had been definite about the necessity for extensive physical training, he said, but the present Government had come to a decision to bring about‘great improvements in the system. Excellent physical drill was going to be a bigger feature for all children in the near future, and it would not be long before they had specially-trained teachers who would see that all the children ■were made physically fit and fine specimens. Both boys and girls would benefit. The Minister said that he had Been something of the hew methods, and he was sure they would delight children of all ages. Mr' Mason said that the existing system of medical inspection of children in schools was not as universal or as systematic as _ it ought to be. It had now been decided to improve the system, and in the near future there would be such a close scheme of inspection that it would be impossible for a child to escape observation who had any discoverable defect jthat could be put right by medical care. The Minister expressed his pleasure that the Government had been able to restore the grants to the kindergartens. Those institutions, he- said, Were doing a fine service in giving tl|e children as early attention as possible.