MEDICAL INSPECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 15

MEDICAL INSPECTION

HUTT HIGH SCHOOL

REPORT OF DOCTORS

Members of the Lower Hutt medical profession, who recently volunteered to examine the boys of the Hutt Valley High School, have presented to the Board of Governors an illuminating report on the health and stamina of the boys. The report makes the following recommendations, which were, adopted by the board:—

(1) That the scheme should be continued next year with the assistance of the doctors. (2) That the qualified opticians in Lower Hutt be approached to see if they will co-operate in the scheme. (3) That the scheme be extended next year to include the girls (except for medical examination). (4) That, in addition to the class at present operating for correction of flat feet, classes be started for those who require corrective exercises for spine and shoulders, and those who have poor chest development. (5) That the Department should be approached lor up-to-date equipment for such classes, such as gymnasium apparatus. (G) That the Department should be asked to provide a part-time teacher for the work required.

It was decided to send copies of the report to the Minister of Education, the Department of Education, and the Director of School Hygiene.

Thanks were extended to the doctors for what they had done.

The medical report concludes with the following paragraph:—"Experiments in the British Army have shown what can be done to improve the physique and health of recruits. It would pay the country to adopt similar methods in our secondary schools. It will cost money for equipment and instructors (who should be more than mere physical drill instructors), but it would be money well spent."

The principal, Mr. J. N. Millard, said that the lack of accommodation precluded the inclusion of girls in the medical scheme at pi'esent.