HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1918, Page 7

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

MEDICAL INSPECTION AND PHYSICAL INSTRUCTION. The senior inspector reported at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Education Boardvthat during May, June.and July Miss H. W. Blackie (physical inspector and instructor) visited 42 schools, A number of reports were presented, and these indicated that, both in the extent of the course and in the performance of the, exercises the schools are working t a good standard, He also stated that during the same months Dr. E. Gunn (assisted by Nurses Jenkins and Reid) .visited the following schools. Stratford D.H. ' ">ool, Inglewood Convent, Waiongona, Aorfolk, Midhirst, Eltham, Ngaere, Kaimata, Tarata, Mokoia, Hawera District ere, High School, Te Roti, Normanby, Okajawa, Manaia, Otakeho, Opunake, Bell Block, Central Okato, Omata and Prankley Toad. To thejwork of ordinary inspection was added the directing of special measures relating toi an epidemic of diphtheria.. In this special duty Dr. Gunn whs assisted by the school committees, parents, to an extent that 1 she desires to acknowledge with sincere appreciation. In the larger centres, Dr-j Gunn held meetings with the mothers of' pupils and the nurses, in special cases, interviewed, the parents at their homes. Apart from the usual conditions Dr. Gunn makes special reference to: (1) The special need for a full amount of physical instruction in the Hawera District High School; (2) the need in some places of a measure of compulsion where parents neglect to have defects and complaints of the pupils attended to; (3) the need for free dentistry in some centres; (4) the effect of unsuitable conditions of lighting in the visit of pupils; (5) The, necessity for attention on the part of parents in some localities to the cleanliness of their children. In some cases parents resented the examination of pupils, and had to be informed of their obligations. The report was/ received, and it was decided to call the attention of the headmaster of the Hawera D.H.S. to the need for a full amount of physical instruction in the school.