MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS 



and to educate their sense of responsibility for the personal hygiene"~of 

 their children. The increased work undertaken by the state for the 

 individual will mean that the parents have not to do less for themselves 

 and their children, but more." 



In the attainment of this purpose, the English educational 

 authorities almost invariably attempt to have either the parent 

 or guardian of the child present during the first examination. 

 In 1909 the percentage of parents attending inspections varied 

 from 13 to 90 in different localities. In more than half of these 

 localities the parents were present during more than 50 per cent of 

 the examinations. 



Methods and results similar to those outlined are features 

 of the German systems. Unfortunately, the plan has never been 

 tried on any extensive scale in America and it is only recently 

 that our educational authorities have begun to realize that true 

 effectiveness in medical inspection is in a large measure dependent 

 upon securing the active co-operation and interest of the parents. 



FOLLOW-UP VISITS 



In the chapter describing the work of the school nurse, 

 reference has been made to the valuable services rendered by school 

 nurses in following up cases and securing action.* Extended 

 experience in many localities has demonstrated that by this 

 method the percentage of pupils receiving remedial attention may 

 be greatly increased and the effectiveness of the measures taken 

 greatly enhanced. 



It is probably safe to hazard the generalization that after 

 systems of physical examination have been in force for some years 

 the percentage of children receiving remedial attention where no 

 follow-up system is employed is apt to fall to about 15, and that 

 where there is a follow-up system and school nurses are employed 

 to visit the homes when necessary, this percentage can be held at 

 about 75. 



OFFICE CONSULTATION 



In many of the more efficient American systems it has been 

 found desirable for the school physician to arrange for regular 

 * See Chap. V, p. 62. 

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