HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 10

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

■■, ;.. >— ..FEVER'. AT CARTEETON. .' A. 'Press Association- message from Carterton on . Monday ' stated : that only--84 scholars were present that; day out of 138 on .the. roll -of the . Carterton school.; Parent's \W'o scared at the scarlet, fever outbreak, and the Board had been urged by the health officers-to temporarily close tho , school, but had declined. It also declined to connect.the school closets with the drainage svsteni. " There ' was," concluded . the message, consider ible indignation over the matter'. With regard to the above, our' Wairarapa correspondent telegraphs ■ that the Board of Education had refused-to close the school when asked to Ho so by the local health officer. Dr. Frenglev, Wellington DistricMlealtli Officer, has now inspected the school, and .will recommend the ■ Board to close the school for a week to allow of a thorough disinfection of tho. building. Dr. Frengley is of opinion that a considerable amount of carelessness has existed among parents in connection with recent scarlet fever •cases in Carterton in allowing children to' go. about when developing the complaint, and in failing''to inform the authorities of■ ■ suspr-ted oases. .Evidence lias been collected in the districMiy the District Health Officer, which wil;. bo place J in the hands of the Crown Solicit it with'a view to the institution of-proceedings by way > f making nn example.' It is said that' iii one case a' resident was supplying milk to other residents while, at the same time, his children' were ill with the fever.' We arc informed by the Secretary of • the Education Board that the Board last evening, decided to give permission to the Carterton School Committee to, close the school for the remainder of the week, during which, lime the building wiir bo fumigated.' The secretary denies the statemc.it in' tho Press Association; telegram that the Board' had declined' to'.-connect tho school closets with the _ drainage system; 'He states that the ucw portion of the school buildings are already well provided in this respect; and that, as regards-the old-school, which ia on the other side of the street, the Board will make similar provision, and will connect with (he drainage system as soon as work in hand will allow.