SICK CHILDREN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20052, 15 September 1920, Page 7

SICK CHILDREN.

“ • SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AFFECTED. Tho amount of sickness among Christchurch children continues to be abnormal, school attendances being greatly affected in some districts, necessitating the closing of the schools in a few areas. Mr 11. C. Lane, secretary to the Canterbury Education Hoard, lias been advised officially that tho New Brighton and Beckenham Schools have had to close for at least another week, and he understands that both Shirley and Somerficld Schools, after re-opening on Monday, were compelled bv the number of absentees, to follow this example. Inquiries shoy that measles is mainly responsible for the non-attendance whooping cough, mumps, influenza’ and ordinary colds adding their quota of victims, in tho order stated, proportionately. Some schools, such as East Christchurch, have been little affected the attendances being almost normal. On tho other hand, North Linwood, whilst remaining open, had on Monday ”13 absentees from a roll of 70S. The secondary schools do not appear to bo so harassed as tho primary schools, the Boys’ High School, for example, having fifty-five absentees from a roll of 430 The average number of absent scholars i» Ibirtv-five, thus tho increase is not disturbing.