HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1918, Page 7

HEALTH OF CHILDREN.

INSPECTION AND CLEANSING OF - SCHOOL BUILDINGS. . At yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, specil attention was called by the health inspector (Mr. A. H. Kendall) to the danger of the spread of infection through school buildings not being thoroughly cleansed. The inspector staled that he had visited several schools, some of which had been thoroughly cleansed under the direction of the committees, 'but he felt there was still danger lurking in the uncleaned desks and school utensils, which, in many cases, were never cleaned from the. time of their being placed in the schools. He considered that attention to cleanliness in that direction would do much to eliminate tha spread of infection, as different children, of varying degrees of cleanliness, used the same desks in the course of their education. The chairman of' the board (Mr. M. Eraser) took occasion to refer to the matter at a later stage of the meeting, when he said that the matter (if the health of school children had been brought afresh under his notice by Dr. Elizabeth Gunn. the medical inspector of schools, who stated that children were attending the public schools in New Plymouth who should be receiving medical attention in the hospital. She stated that the physical standard of school children was such as should receive immediate attention. She considered there should be seme local authority in this town to whom she might appeal. Continuing, Dr. ftunn had said that many pupils were found to be ill-clad, ill-nourished, and insanitary. Mr. Eraser said he pointed out to Dr. Gunn that, while entirely agreeing with her, that this deplorable condition of school children should be remedied, the matter was quite outside the .limits of the function of the Hospital Board, and yet a,t the same time the board must not lose sight of the fact that it was responsible for the health of the community. The chairman said ho had called upon the secretary of the Education Board and pointed out that the question should receive their earnest consideration. The Education Department seem to be seriously concerned about the dental necessities of school children, and also spend large sums of money on technical, schools,..where boys and girls spend so much of their short ®ch°ol period in acquiring a stiperficial knowledge of work they mar never have to do, yet overlook the all-important question of the physical condition of the rising generation. Mr. Eraser Baid he mentioned the matter so that members of the board might help to create an interest in the question. In the discussion which followed, the members of the board expressed commendation of the action of Dr Gunn and also the health inspector, in ventilating such a important matter, but the general opinion was that the Education Board should be urged to take some action. It was resolevd to bring the matter under the notice of the Education Board, and to furnish them with copies of Dr. Gunn's and the health inspector's reports.