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Physical Protection of Youth.

A sound mind in a sound body ought to be the primary object of the school system of every country. Of the mind it may be said that its health depends entirely on the health of the body. It may be freely admitted, at the same time, that this is acknowledged by the Education Department, which bases its system on the fact. There is, however, a condition precedent to be attended to. It is that before the body can be kept well, it must first be well. The Teachers ' Institute has long since appreciated the point, and there have been here and there examinations not of the general order, but particular, such as those for dentistry purposes. Here is the germ of an excellent system. Why not have all the schools of the Dominion visited once a day by the various members of the medical profession in their neighbourhood? It would not be a detailed examination such as the miners objected to the other day so strenuously. The children would just pass in file before the examiners, and these would simply mark those who seemed to them off colour in any way. At the close of the examination these suspects would be questioned; and if the examiner came to the conclusion that there was disease or trouble of any kind, he would state the case and the school authority would notify the parents. The suspect could then be, if necessary, laid up

for treatment either by the family doctor, or the examiner, or any one else the parents might fancy. The great thing would be that every ailment would be taken in time, and the probability is that most of the mischiefs of childhood would be obviated. Another advantage of the daily expert visit would be that all the points of sanitation would come under review of competent authority every day — cubic air contents of rooms, ventilation arrangements, drainage, water supply, all these important things would be systematically regulated, and nothing going amiss would be missed. Under such a system the well-being of the school children would be materially increased, and, therefore, the sane mind in the sane body would be a more perfect reality than it is now. The work would be honorary, of course. It would we feel sure, be a labour of love to medical men fond of their profession and taking a pride in it. In fact, the profession which supplies the hospitals with honorary physicians and surgeons has demonstrated its readiness to supply the schools with honorary inspectors. Lastly, the concentration in the schools would give the best opportunity for inspection, and the work would be done disinterestedly and impartially, as well as ably.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/P19090301.2.8.1

Bibliographic details

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 5, 1 March 1909, Page 151

Word Count
453

Physical Protection of Youth. Progress, Volume IV, Issue 5, 1 March 1909, Page 151

Physical Protection of Youth. Progress, Volume IV, Issue 5, 1 March 1909, Page 151