Cleaning of Schools

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 171, 16 April 1937, Page 13

Cleaning of Schools

-Sir, —Can yon tell me whether the public health authorities have insisted on the thorough cleaning of all city schools during this week? Surely in fairness to the staffs of our schools the public should demand that their surroundings are hygienic, as the present outbreak of infantile paralysis has proved that adults as well as children are liable -to attack, those of middle age suffering even more than children. With regard to assignments of work sent in by children, have any steps been taken to ensure that no assignment may be sent from a home In which there has been a positive ease? Parents will be the first to. admit that the health of teachers needs safeguarding as well as that of children.—l am, etc., MARGARET HATTON. April 15. Poliomyelitis was a disease which spread directly from one person to another, and the possibility of buildings or rooms becoming infected and therefore dangerous to their occupants was extremely unlikely, said Dr. F. S. McLean, Medical Officer of Health, Wellington, when the matter was referred to him. The cleaning of the schools was the responsibility of school committees, and doubtless they could be relied on to do everything necessary. It was not considered that there was any likelihood of infection being transmitted through the sending of homework to the schools for correction.