MEDICAL COURSE FOR TEACHERS

Evening Star, Issue 19857, 4 May 1928, Page 9

MEDICAL COURSE FOR TEACHERS

A HEAD MASTER'S SUGGESTION [Special to the ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, May 3. That there should be added to the usual studies of school teachers a twoyears’ medical course was tho suggestion made to the Minister of Health by Mr A. O. Maxwell, head master of Phillipstown School, when the Minister received a deputation to-day to ask for more dental clinics. Mr Maxwell said he had thought for some time that if head masters had some real medical knowledge it would be very useful in schools like Phillipstown. He thought that the addition of a two-years’ medical course to the ordinary course would be most helpful. A head master might have an hour a day set aside to deal with medical inquiries, and he considered there was great scope for something to be done in this dirccton. Mr Young had not heard tho suggeston before, but thought it a very valuable one, and one that could bo considered by educational people. He thought, though, that a great deal of good could be done if people, rather than learning about medical treatment, endeavoured to gain more knowledge of preventive measures for the care and conservation of health. He had discussed with the heads of the dental division whether something could be done along that line by means of propaganda, showing the vain© of taking care of the body, of sunshine and cleanliness in the homes, and of what foods to avoid. Prevention was better than cure, and thousands of pounds of the taxpayers’ money would bo saved by n big movement along those lines.