SCHOOL SYSTEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23770, 25 September 1940, Page 11

SCHOOL SYSTEM

MEDICAL INSPECTION PHYSICAL TRAINING PLAN GREATER CARE OF CHILDREN [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION*] CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday A change in the system of medical inspection and caro of all schoolchildren and greatly-improved physical training are two of the major features of educational reform planned by the Government under tho guidance of the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason. Details of what tho Government is now doing and intends to do to improve the welfare of the children in its caro in all schools throughout the Dominion wore given by tho Minister to three schools he visited in Christchurch to-day.

Tho Minister explained that every endeavour had been made by tho department to have free issues of milk for children in all schools. This had not yet been accomplished, but was a long way toward achievement. Where fresh milk was not available malted milk was given and had proved a good substitute. Careful tests and examinations had been made of the effects of the milk issue and now it was no longer a matter of opinion but had definitely been proved that children wero very much bettor through being given milk. Dental Treatment More dental nurses were being trained, tho Minister said, in the new training school recently opened in Wellington. The dental services now available were extensive, but had to be improved, and soon there would be considerably more nurses to attend to tho dental treatment of a great many more children. Tho Minister emphasised that the department he controlled intended to improve very greatly the facilities for physical training of all schoolchildren. All Governments had been definite about the necessity for extensive physical training, he said, but the present Government had come to a decision to bring about great improvements in tho system. Excellent physical drill was going to be a bigger feature for all children in the near future, and it would not be long before they had specially-trained teachers, who would seo that all children were made physically fit and fine specimens. Both boys and girls would benefit. The Minister said he had seen something of the now methods and he was sure they 'would delight children of all ages. Scheme of Inspection

Mr. Mason said that the existing system of medical inspection of children in schools was not as universal or systematic as it ought to be. It had now been decided to improve the system, and in the near future there would be such a close scheme of inspection that it would be impossible for a child to escape observation Mho had any discoverable defect that could be put right by medical care. The Minister expressed his pleasure that the Government had been able to restore grants to kindergartens. Those institutions, he said, were doing fine service in giving children as earlj' attention as possible.