Abstract
SIR ARTHUR MACNALTY'S report for 1938 on "The Health of the School Child"has been issued by the Board of Education (H.M. Stationery Office. 1s. 3d.). The introduction considers the circumstances rendering necessary the evacuation of school children from large urban centres of population and its effect upon the school medical service. During the year the nutrition of 1,674,023 children was assessed at routine medical inspections, and 14·5 per cent were found to be excellent, 74·2 per cent normal, 10·8 per cent subnormal and 0·5 per cent bad. During twenty years, improvement in the nutrition of the school child is striking. Thus in Sheffield, compared with 1920, five-year-old boys average nearly 2 inches taller and 3 lb. heavier, and five-year-old girls 1·4 inches taller and 1 lb. heavier; twelve-year-old boys are more than 2 inches taller and 9¾ lb. heavier, and twelve-year-old girls 3 inches taller and no less than 12·4 lb. heavier. The numbers of children in receipt of free meals or milk continue to increase—from 535,300 in 1936–37 to 687,855 now—and the milk-in-schools scheme is in operation in 87 per cent of public elementary schools. Much information is given respecting medical inspection and treatment, hearing of children, the school dental service, and the care of the young child.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Health of the School Child. Nature 145, 255 (1940). https://doi.org/10.1038/145255b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/145255b0