SCHOOL DENTISTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18571, 25 November 1920, Page 7

SCHOOL DENTISTRY.

STATE SCHEME OPERATING. [From Odr Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, November 24. While a controversy is going on over the method of recruiting trained women to carry out the simple dental treatment of school children a start lias been made in a large Wellington school, where a dental clinic has operate? for two months. Children for the first week were shy, but the prevailing feeling now is one of envy of the dental patients. Interference with school work appears to bo slight, owing to the dental room being in the'same building. The teachers' point of view is interesting. The headmaster of the school is enthusiastic. There had, he admitted, been certain interference with school work, but it was nothing compared with what .is necessary, for instance, for the medical examination of children.

" What upset there has been w© have accepted philosophically," said the headmaster. "We believe it quite unavoidable, and that in the >long run the results will more than make up for it. This business has been one of the surprises of my teaching career. I expected that the children would have been full of fear, but since the first batch or two were treated they have shown no sign of this, and now there is almost rivalry to get to that room. There is nothing of fear left." This stato of affairs, he remarked, had been brought about largely by the understanding of the operator, who understood and had made friends with the children. "I look upon this thing as among the finest the Government has done, ho said. "If we are to teach the child well, it must be healthy. It cannot be healthy if it does not eat well and assimilate its food, and that it cannot 3o unless it has. good teeth. But quite apart from what may be the selfish point of view of the teacher I think this is going to be of incalculable value."

GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS CONDEMNED. [Pkr Press Association.] DUNEDIN. November. 24, At a meeting of the committee "of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Dental Association the following motion was 1 carried: /"That this branch strongly disapproves of the Government's proposal to employ partially trained women in the State dental services. The members support the contentions of the Wanganui branch that the meeting of the executive in Wellington did not represent the opinions of the members of the New Zealand Dental Association. Further, the members believe that the employment of such women would bo false economy for the Government, in that they necessarily could not render efficient service. It would also be disastrous for the school children; moreover it would lower the standard of dentistry in New Zealand and degrade the profession for all time. The dentists of New Zealand backed the Government in war time, and assisted the treatment of recruits to the utmost of their ability. The dentists do not now expect their opinions and wishes to be turned down by the Government."