SCHOOL CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 672, 27 May 1914, Page 5

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

MEDICAL INFECTION.

SYSTEM TO BE EXTENDED

The medical inspection of children in State primary schools has been in operation sufficiently long to make the reports now in preparation by the Education Department particularly valuable and interesting. There ware early indications of the prevalence of adenoids among school children to an astonishing extent, and the need for dental treatment was found by the medical inspectors to be fairly general. The system, when its results are presented concisely to the public in formal reports and statistics, really goes no further. Parents are informed of physical defects discovered in their children, but the State has not gone the length of making sure that these defects are remedied.

A newspaper representative had an interview with the Minister for Education on this important subject. The Hon. James Allen Irankly admitted that tho State, having started the medical examination system, could not scop there, but the matter was difficult and delicate to handle. The responsibility is, of .course, upon the parents to see that their children are as healthy aa possible," remarked the Minister, "and we must do ncthing to destroy that seneo of pyrantel responsibility, but if there are cases where the parent ia unable to do what ia needed, then it may be the duty of the State to see to the matter. This action can only be taken with the greatest of caution. It is a right and proper thing for parents to make sacrifice for their children, and most parents willingly do it. There ara some who cannot, and these ought to be helped. Something must be done. We cannot stop at simple inspection and reporting."