MANCHESTER ST. SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 15, 15 December 1945, Page 5

MANCHESTER ST. SCHOOL

Parents’ Dty was held at the Manchester Street School on Thursday, when there was an excellent attendance. The classrooms were ope.n to inspection, and on each desit samples of the pupils’ work was displayed. Mr Ifi. J. Seville (headmaster) and his staff took the opportunity to meet parents and discuss progress made by their children. Stalls were conducted and the returns from them go to the general school .funds. Mr Seville explained that, the display of work was not a show, and the pupils had not been especially coached to provide the exhibition. What the parents viewed was simply a sample of everyday work. Considerable interest was taken in the display of bamboo and steel pipes used by the boys’ band, trained by Mr A. L. Dewar. Recently the School Committee purchased £6 worth of milking machine steel piping for the manufacture of 45 treble pipes by Mr Dewar. Each complete pipe thus cost a modest 3s, and the instruments remain the property of the school. The visitors were aiso impressed with the pokerwork and hasketwork carried out by the special class children. Standard 6 pupils were taught to read electric power meters. and to work out electricity problems and accounts. Drawings showing the progress of machinery in modern times attracted attention, while scrap-books in picture form, depicting various industrial and farming activities were also a feature. In general the work was of a high standard and proved most interesting. Outside the school, games and competitions were held, while the senior boys and girls played their lawn tennis championships. Mr Seville was well satisfied with the success of the function and on behalf of the committee expressed his appreciation of the response on the part of parents. An interesting feature of the programme was the inspection of and the display arranged by the school’s deytal clinic, where the nurses in charge (Misses K. J nil and M. Ciapham) sliowed models of teeth in various stages of decay and explained simple compound and prophyiaet.c cavities required to he prepared for fiq.ngs. Decay at the point of contact \7!cli adjoining teeth was explained. Other models of jaws showed the correct line which should he taken by the teeth as they appear oil the surface of the gums, and the serious damage Which such habits as pushing the chin forward, finger, thumb and tongue sucking, and mouth breathing had i.-n alignment. The adverse effect of premature extractions on the shape of the mouth and gums was clearly shown on another model, which demonstrated the subsidence of the gums due to teeth having been extracted prematurely. Many questions were asked by the parents, who were most favourably.impressed by the scrupulously clean and neat appearance of the clinic and the modern equipment provided for extractions, fillings, and cleansing of teeth. . , The clinic has been in operation tor almost a year and it is interesting to learn that no fewer than 1050 children in the Feilding district receive dental attention there. In addition to the pupils of the Manchester St. School, country schools throughout the district send their pupils to the clinic. There are also 200 pre-school age children receiving service from the clinic, where the nurses attend to first teeth as well as permanent ones. Fully detailed charts- are maintained for all patients, and upwards of 12 children are attended to daily. Situated within a stone s throw of vhe main school, the clime is well-designed and furnished, while tne facilities compare very favourably wi -a professional dental parlours. Instruction in the care of teeth is given to the children, while the value of pure milk is emphasised for its calcium content and beneficial effect on the growth and strength of teeth. The entire satisfaction of parents in regard to the service provided is apparent from the fact that there have been no ' complaints received since the clinic was established. The nurses, how-over, are fully occupied in dealing with . the large number of children referred to and it was stated that there is a shortage of trained dental nurses in the Dominion at present.