CARE OF CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1940, Page 8

CARE OF CHILDREN

By Telegraph—Press Association.

SYSTEM FOR_ SCHOOLS BIG REFORMS PLANNED

Christchurch, Last Night. A big change in the system of medical inspection and care of all school children ,and greatly improved physical training are two of the major features of the educational reform planned by the Government under the guidance of the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason. Details of what the Government is now doing and intends to do to improve the welfare of the children in its care in all schools throughout the Dominion were given by the Minister to three schools he visited at Christchurch to-day. They were listed by the Minister as follows:— . Milk in schools: The Minister explamed that every endeavour had been made by the department to have free issues of milk for children jn all schools. This had not yet been accomplished, but was

a long way towards achievemeni. Where fresh milk was not available, malted milk was given and had proved a good substitute. Careful tests and examinations had been made of the effects of the milk issue, and now it was no longer a matter of opinion, but had definitely been proved, that children were very much better through being given milk. Dental services: More dental nurses were being trained, the Minister said, in a big new training school recently opened at Wellington. Dental services now available were extensive, but had to be improved, and soon there would be considerably more nurses to atterid to the dental treatment of a great many more children. Physical Training Improvements. Physical training: The Minister emphasised that the department he controlled intended to improve very greatly the facilities for physical training of all school children. All Governments had been definite about the necessity for extensive physical training, he said, but the present Government had come to a decision to bring about great improvements of the system. Excellent physical drill was going to be a bigger feature for all children in the near future and it would not be long before they had specially trained teachers who would see that all children were made physically fit and fine specimens. Both boys and girls would benefit. The Minister said that he had seen something of the new methods and he was sure they would delight children of all ages. Medical inspection: Mr. Mason said that the existing system of medical inspection of children in schools was not as universal or systematic as it ought to be. It had now been decided to improve the system and in the near future there would be such a close scheme of inspection that it would be impossible for a child to escape observation who had any discoverable defect that could be put right by medical care. Kindergarten care: The Minister expressed his pleasure that the Government had been able to restore grants to kindergartens. Those institutions, he said, were doing fine service in giving children as early attention as possible.