EDUCATION IN ENGLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 25

EDUCATION IN ENGLAND

iFeou Oub Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, January 22. lhorj parents who recently raised objections to compulsory tooth brush drill in me schools on the ground that its enforcement was the business of parents rather than of teachers will probably be surprised to learn something of the methods now being employed by the educational authorities of the large cities in England and America, an interesting description of which was given by Dr Ada Paterson (school medical officer, of Wellington). Dr Paterson returned by the Aiakura last week from a 12 months’ trip abroad, in the Sourse of which she learned, many interesting things about the way in which the olu system is being scrapped for modern and progressive • methods. She spoke of schofis in England and Scotland where the children are not only taught to clean their teeth, but are washed and bathed; where hot Iheal s are served in the school dining room from a central municipal depot, whicfi turns out thousands of dinners every day ; where attendants accompany the little scholars to and from school : and where they are put to bed for a rest period every day immediately after lunch. The latter procedure is not part of the curriculum of the ordinary public schools, bill of special schools for ailing children to which a hospital department and clinic is attached. These are but a few of the features of a system which aims at building up the bodies of weak children, and developing to the fullest possible extent the faculties of the sub-normp.l. Of course, it is all - costing an enormous amount of money, but it is considered that the results entirely compensate for the expenditure. ‘‘Much as we have spent on education in New Zealand, we ha™* not even begun to approach the standard of expenditure that now obtains in Britain.” remarked Dr Pate; son. “Money for all these innovations is found by the municipalities, supplemented b.v a Slate, grant, as the results are certainly proving very beneficial to the children. The authorities receive splendid help from an organisation of voluntary women workers known as the Invalid Children’s Aid Association, Some of them work in ttie clinics attached to the schools; some give help in the homes when the mothers are worn out and unable to carry on ; and others volunteer for secretarial duties, men again (hey do all kinds of work in the schools themselves, such as washing and bathing the little ones, assisting the school medical officer by following uo bis work in the homes, and seeing that his instructions are carried out. They arrange country holidays for little children from the towns and see that they obtain, proper food and clothing.” The development of the open air school was dwelt upon in an interesting manner by Dr Paterson. Glasgow was mentioned as having a particularly fine type of building. capable of adjustment to anv vagary of wind and weather, and provided with heating apparatus for winter use. The children at these schools are also being nrovided with wraps for cold days. The holding of rest periods for delicate children was a feature of school life which greatly impressed the doctor." “I have seen 200 or 300 of tile little ones lying outside on verandahs, oa their stretchers, in weather far more severe than anything we experience in New Zealand,” she said, ‘‘and they certainly appeared to be benefiting bv it. The terrible bousing conditions of the great industrial cities of England are having- their effect on the children of the nation, and the authorities are fully alive to this peril. They oannot immediately relieve the position with rtgard to housing, so they are doing all tney can to mitigate its evil effects by giving the children; the best conditions possible in their schbcil < life,- with cleanliness, plenty of fresh air, and wholesome food.”