SCHOOL MEDICAL INSPECTION

New Zealand Tablet, 9 August 1917, Page 28

SCHOOL MEDICAL INSPECTION

Replying to a question by Mr. Jennings, M.P., the Hon. Mr. Hanan (Minister of Education) said; “As would be seen from the recent public statements made by myself, the national importance of the work of school medical inspectors had been a matter to which he had given a considerable amount of attention. A report of a very interesting and instructive character will shortly be issued dealing with the work of the medical inspectors and of the principles upon which the medical inspection is based. Proposals are under consideration to increase the number of school medical inspectors and of school nurses, and also to make provision for co-operating with Plunket nurses for the benefit of school children in outlying districts. When it is remembered that there is only one school medical inspector for each 45,000 school children it will be recognised that the number of the present staff falls far short of the ideal. It was hoped to add to the number as soon as improved conditions make it possible to-secure the services of additional school medical inspectors, so that they may be able to cope with the inspection of the whole of the school children of New Zealand, irrespective of the schools they attend. The Government was fully alive to the value of school medical inspection and to the possibilities of its development, recognising that it was necessary to build up from the foundation a healthy and vigorous race without which all our attempts at education and social progress will be, to a large extent, handicapped.” This, no doubt, is the outcome of the representations made by the Catholic Federation both by deputation and correspondence. Already we have the swimming grants. Our next is the School Journal, then scholarships, and free places, and finally a capitation grant.