SCHOOL CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1916, Page 6

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

MEDICAL INSPECTION AND PHYSI- I CAL INSTRUCTION. j (From Out Own Correspondent). ! Wellington, March 15. Recently the Minister for Education (Hon. J. A. Hunan) stnted that he intended to revise the system of medical inspection rind physical instruction in 1 tlic State schools.. The new scheme lias now been drafted, and it shows that some important improvements are proposed. The officers engaged in the work are j ( to be placed under the supervision and j instruction of the senior inspectors for I the district in which they are for the ! time being employed. This arrangement I will secure a closer co-ordination of work.

The scheme of medical inspection may Iw summarised as the routine examination of children in Standard 2 and in general the examination of children selected for real and suspected defects. The scheme of medical inspection is to include—(l) The instruction of teachers, including pupil teachers and training college students in the knowledge and the application of the system of physical instruction and medical inspection. (2) In view of the reduction in the staff of medical Inspectors and physical ' instructors the scheme is to extend for the present to the school with an average attendance of over 120 and to. the Training College. , (") Classes are to lie formed in each district for the instruction of teachers. (4) It is recommended that the younger inspectors of schools should take a course of instruction in physical exercises in order that they may inspect the work done by the teachers in the smaller schools. (5) Corrective classes are to be formed for the treatment of children who physically are below the normal standa'rd. (8) Part of the duties of the inspectors and instructors when visiting schools is to have short talks with the teachers and children regarding matters of diet, preservation of the teeth and correct postures. Occasionally these talks cou'd be extended to parents in the evenings. The medical inspection does not ex- | tfnd to registered private sVhools, but ] tlie Minister notes that the teachers at I such schools should receive instruction j in physical education as opportunity may offer.