HEALTH OF CHILDREN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23477, 4 November 1941, Page 5

HEALTH OF CHILDREN

ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE SCHOOL _ i , COMMENT ON HEADMASTERS’ REPORT "Some disquieting disclosures about the activities of school children outside of school hours are made in a report recently, prepared by a committee of the Auckland Headmasters’ Association,” says Dr. H. B. Turbott, director of school hygiene. Department of Health, writing in “National Education.” The report is the outcome of a thorough investigation made by this committee as a result of the concern expressed by headmasters at the evidence of over-stimulation, loss of sleep, and lowered vitality, caused by activities before and after school hours.

“A copy of the report was sent to the Health Department, which views with considerable concern some of the facts contained therein, and which commends to teachers some of the suggestions made by the committee. “Among other things, the investigation discloses that a large number of primary school children go to the pictures regularly three, four, and five nights a week; that some are selling sweets six nights a week; that an unusually large number are out four and five nights in every week; and that out of 3800 cases investigated, the great majority of children arrived home between 9 and 11 o’clock at night. “If these practices are not checked the effect is going to be extremely serious, morally as well as physically. The welfare of the young people is one of the most important aspects of public health administration, and the department feels that it can rely on the active co operation of the teachers of New Zealand to minimise a disturbing tendency in our cities. "The committee had no fault to find with work before and after school, provided that: (a) the conditions of work are not prejudicial to the welfare of the children: (b) the hours are reasonable: (c) the children have time for sufficient sleep, and for taking their proper meals; (d) the children’s participation in games and other healthy recreation is not unduly curtailed. “The discovery of the committee was that, in the case of many of the children, these provisions are entirely neglected. “The committee draws particular attention to the need for adequate sleep and quotes the Health Department as recommending that school children require at least 10 hours’ sleep in a wellaired and well-ventilated bedroom. It refers also to the department’s statement that many young children are not sent to bed early enough and that the excitement of evening entertainments is very harmful. “In its recommendations the committee reposes in teachers a share of the responsibility of seeing that the state of affairs disclosed is corrected. It suggests that teachers should report to Child Welfare officers, or to the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, cases where children are known to be working excessively before and after school hours or who are under insufficient control. “Another suggestion the committee makes is that teachers should emphasise. in the health and other lessons, the need for uninterrupted and sufficient sleep if a sound and vigorous body is to be developed, and that they should encourage children by every means possible, to observe the rule of ‘early to bed.’ ”