HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16559, 25 May 1914, Page 6

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Some few years ago when we were strongly urging the institution of a system of medical inspection of the public schools and wore insisting on the necessity for regular physical training of the children a journal that ought to have known better declared that we wanted to see New Zealanders converted into a nation of valetudinarians. Tho report of Dr Gunn on some of the Wellington schools shows, however, that tho system of inspection was not established before it was required. Dr Gunn’s figures aro admittedly alarming. and even when they are read again in the light of Dr Eleanor Baker’s explanations they still give cause for grave reflection. A large number of the cases examined by Dr Gunn were

specially selected by inspectors or teachers as requiring attention, but her inquiries included many children who were not obviously weak, and among these she found far too high a percentage of physical defects. Broadly, her report suggests that many parents are treating the health of their children with indifference, and that some of them do not even see that their children are properly fed. Dr Baker’s experience shows that there is less reason for alarm in tho schools she has examined in Canterbury, but it would be idle to say that the boys and girls arc being given a reasonable chance of growing up in full enjoyment of health. The outstanding trouble, of course, is tho prevalence of dental defects. It is customary to assume that parents are simply indifferent on this subject, but we believe that the reason for the apparent indifference is to be found in the high average of the dentists’ fees. The father of a family may be told that the expenditure of a few shillings at the outset would save subsequent expense, but probably he has had experience of the manner in which the charges are liable to mount up. We are not forgetting the very excellent work the Dental Association has been doing, but it is quite obvious that tho State ought to assist in this department. Next' to tho figures regarding defective teeth those relating to defects of breathing are most startling. In this matter the system of physical education, when it gets into full working order, ought to produce a marked improvement. The examination that is boing carried out by the medical experts, however, neods to be backed up by vigorous action on the part of the education authorities. It is not sufficient to know the facts. Having the facts before it the Government ought to take immediate steps to remedy as far as possible the evils to which the doctors have directed attention.