[Report 1962] / Medical Officer of Health, Surrey County Council.

  • Surrey (England). County Council
Date:
1962
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1962] / Medical Officer of Health, Surrey County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    87 on various aspects of health education in schools from the point of view of content and appli¬ cation. To this end discussions have commenced on the whole range of possibilities that arise in schools based on a 33-page report prepared by the health education officer. To support and complement the work of the teaching staff, many health visitors, district nurse tutors and teaching midwives have received further in-service training in teaching technique in relation to health education. It will be noted that there has been an increase in the number of teaching sessions in schools undertaken by health visitors from 106 in 1961 to 239 in 1962. (3) Special campaigns. (a) Smoking and health. Following the publication of the report on “Smoking and Health” by the Royal College of Physicians, the Education and Health Committee agreed that every support should be given to the proposal to mount a campaign directed particularly to secondary schools and youth organisations, so that a fresh and positive effort be made to discourage smoking among school children and to prevent the formation of the smoking habit. To this end a mobile exhibition unit, sponsored by the Central Council for Health Education, was utilised. The operational cost of the campaign was shared by the County Council and the District Councils. The unit consisted of a small van staffed by two graduate lecturers who were specially trained and briefed to deliver talks on the topic of smoking and health. The vehicle was equipped with a film projector and other teaching aids. Supplementary educational material, such as posters and leaflets, were also pro¬ vided. While in any specified Division the unit was under the authority of the Divisional Medical Officer. Visits to about 100 secondary schools were arranged in collaboration with divisional education officers. Visits to about 40 youth organisations were arranged in collaboration with district youth officers and medical officers of health. The overall co-ordination was carried out by the health education officer. The general policy was to reinforce the message of the hazards of smoking by the promotion of discussion among young people. Much of the success of the campaign would depend on the amount of “follow-up” work carried out by teaching and health personnel. (b) Dental health education. Active co-operation was continued in the closing stages of the dental health education campaign in Guildford and assistance given to the Principal School Dental Officer in planning a similar campaign in the North Eastern Division. Report on physical education. I am indebted to the Chief Education Officer for the notes under this heading. Primary schools. A satisfactory standard of work has been maintained during the year and improvements to facilities, equipment and storage space have been made at many schools. Primary teachers have shown great keenness to improve the physical welfare and skill of their pupils and some interesting and well-graded experimental work is to be found in many parts of the County. Courses in all branches of physical education have been arranged and have been well attended. Secondary schools. The shortage of specialist staff, which has been a major problem for some years, especially in regard to girls’ schools, is still causing anxiety and limiting progress. With the “year of intermission” now over the staffing position should improve and it should be possible to look forward to steadily improving standards over the full range of secondary school activities. In spite of a most severe winter the enthusiasm for outdoor activities has grown and courses in sailing, canoeing, climbing, etc., have been well attended. Perhaps the year’s most important development has been the interest shown in the proposed formation of a Surrey Physical Education Association. At the inaugural meeting over 200 specialist teachers, lecturers, and organisers were present, all keen to combine their knowledge and experience for the benefit of the schools. It is likely that the impact of this new teamwork will be felt during the coming year. The programme of improvements to games and athletics facilities has been continued through this second year of the “3 year improvements plan.” Swimming. It is encouraging to be able to report a most successful year in schools’ swimming. Six new learners’ pools have been constructed at primary schools and the three larger projects at secondary schools (mentioned in the 1961-2 report) are now almost completed. The Education Committee has improved its grant-aid for school swimming bath schemes with the result that many more schools feel confident to undertake the work and responsibility of providing a swimming pool. Surrey was the host County for the All England Schools Swimming Championships, held at Epsom Baths over two days in the Autumn of 1962. The meeting was a triumph of organisation and performance and all who took part in any way are to be congratulated for its success and for the spur it has given to this very vital sport and recreation. A six-day Course on Swimming Teaching and a one-day Conference on Swimming have been held during the year.
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