Page 2 - 1977 News Clippings

College Comment . . .

TEACHERS CONCERNED ABOUT PUPIL HEALTH

April, 1977 Nutrition Research

Pupils should have free The PPTA was critical Surveys by teams from
medical check-ups when of the role in schools of the Auckland University’s
they begin secondary school. Health Department, which, it School of Medicine show
That’s what the Post Primary said should investigate serious diseases are going
Teachers’ Association has whether children are undetected in schools.
told a Government appointed properly fed. It urged health Present methods of detecting
committee studying health at officials to inquire into the them are failing lamentably,
schools. nutritional standards of say child health researchers.
The PPTA says schools pupils in a large number of The teams of
need nurses, doctors and secondary schools. Meals at researchers examined more
more physical education schools may be needed it than one third of the nation’s
teachers who could give told the committee. pupils. They were in the
advice on drugs, alcohol and Sanitation Thames-Auckland area. The
smoking. It says the role of The association warned surveys found a high
the phys-ed teacher is that health could not flourish incidence of heart defects,
critical in the development where the administration of ear diseases, scabies,
and that the status of the job schools did not think basic impetigo, sight problems and
needs re-evaluating. sanitary facilities were obesity.

P. E. Downgrade. important. It urged that Education Needed

PPTS’s Southland health inspectors visit Obesity was also an
Region, in a paper prepared schools regularly to check obvious problem among
for the 1973 National soap and towels, showers teenagers and was associated
Conference, found half the and hot water supplies. “Too with coronary heart disease.
schools surveyed there were little is being done by the Rheumatic, which caused
no meeting physical Health Department to heart damage, was up to
education requirements laid guarantee all secondary three times more prevalent
down in the “core”. It also school pupils enjoy optimum here than in other developed
found; Reluctant teachers health, says the association. countries like Australia and
with little interest in, or Each pupil should have Canada. Professor Lines
aptitude for, sport were free medical checks, says “Students must be made
required to coach “less able” including optical and dental aware of the serious
pupils. examinations when starting implications of these

A disturbingly large school and before leaving. diseases. Preventative
number of sixth and seventh The school should also make measures should be
formers who were getting no sure they are doing advertised and medical help
phys-ed. everything for their misfits, sought. Nurses should be
stammerers, dyslexics and appointed immediately to
An undue proportion of fat pupils. look after health education.
physical education teachers
in the schools surveyed were
young and inexperienced.