The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1918. PHYSICAL STANDARD OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1918. PHYSICAL STANDARD OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

The war has caused search lights to be thrown on many matters — social, political, economic and physical—and surprise after surprise has followed. Probnb'v no such glaring anomaly has ever been presented in New Zealand as the existence of some of the most splendidly fit men physically —men who have attracted attention wherever they went, and advertised the Dominion as a marvel of human products—while at the same time there is shown a percentage of medical rejects for service as high as sixty. How can this difference be explained" That is for the medical experts to determine after studying the var- ' ions reasons for which apparently healthy and strong men were turned down. Unfortunately the tendency appears to be more towards the downward grade of physical fitness than the upward, and the Minister of Defence has recently stated that "the first thing we must do, is to improve the physical standard of the young men." That may palliate, but will certainly not eradicate the evil. The matter is one for research, but the probing must go down to the infant stage and the causes traced upwards. Mr Massey, speaking in London recently, dwelt upon the measures taken to protect and foster the infants of .the Dominion, These, of course,

thanks to Dr. Truby King's untiring "efforts, have proved a ; great success, but having set | the infants on their feet—so to speak—what amount of in- ; terest or care has the State exhibited over the health and sanitary surroundings of the growing children? Until recently, none at all, except as to children's ; teeth, nnd even in that department no satisfactory scheme has yet been adopted. The most practical step yet taken by the Government has been to appoint Dr. Elizabeth Gunn as medical inspector of schools, and to send her round the country on a mission of inspection, not only of the children, but of their home and school surroundings. There is no lack of inspec- , tors in New Zealand, some acting under Government departments, : and others under local bodies, and yet with these hosts at work in : town and country epidemics are - rampant, children insanitary, : schools impregnated with disease • germs, and cleanliness leaving : much to be desired. It is only ! necessary to bear in mind what , took place in this connection at : the last meeting of the Taranaki ' Hospital Board in order to realise the extent of the present day evil. The health inspector, in reporting that several schools in the district had received a thorough cleansing, remarked that 1-his was a very necessary operation, adding that it was doubtful if the desks at some schools had received a thorough cleansing since being first installed some years ago, and the more regular attention in many cases to these, at first sight, trivial matters, would go a long way towards eliminating much of the infection which must have spread in the past by the use of children, of varying degrees of cleanliness, of the same desk during their school course. This statement comes upon us as an unpleasant awakening from the complacency with which we have regarded the district as a health resort, but Dr Elizabeth Gunn has given a ruder shock than the mild revelation of the local health inspector. She stated to the Chairman of the Hospital Board that children were attending the public schools who should be receiving medical attention in the hospital, while many of the pupils were ill-clad, ill-nourished, and insanitary. No wonder Dr. Gunn urged that the physical standard of our children demanded immediate attention. Naturally the chairman disclaimed any responsibility on the part of the board on this matter, but, with Dr Gunn, we may well explain that "surely there should be some authority" to whom an appeal could be made. Now that the Defence Minister has become convinced that the first thing to be dnne is to improve the physical standard of the young men, Dr Gunn should have no difficultyJn convincing the Government of the urgent necessity for striking at the root: of the evil and passing satisfactory, compulsory legislation for ensuring that children of all ages and of both sexes shall not only have proper physical training but grow up under sanitary conditions that will largely eliminate epidemics and produce healthy and vigorous men and women. Even under normal circumstances this vital matter should be attacked boldly and drastically. but in view of the war wastage it is absolutely imperative that the rising generation be made as physically fit as possible. The onus is on the Government to see that parents do their duty to the children as regards health and physical fitness. There ought not to be any need for the Government to exercise parental functions as to the health of children, but there is ample proof that the need exists, so in the interests of the State, action should be taken on systematic lines. It is more carelessness than callousness that is responsible for the present deplorable state of affairs, and if the children are brought up with due regard to health.'they will probably take care that Ihe next generation is even more fitted foAhe brittle of life than the present. It is also incumbent on public bodies io assist in this much needed crusade.