[Report 1953] / School Medical Officer of Health, Glasgow.

  • Glasgow (Scotland)
Date:
1953
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1953] / School Medical Officer of Health, Glasgow. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/102 (page 10)
    3.—SANITARY CONDITION OF SCHOOLS School Medical Officers acting under Section 20 (4) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1946, paid a total of 77 visits to 75 schools (including nursery and residential schools). General inspection of the premises in each instance was undertaken, special regard being given to lighting, heating, ventilation and to the sanitary arrangements. Moreover, on the occasion of each visit, the Head Teacher and class teachers were interviewed by the School Medical Officer who took the opportunity of discussing with them the health and well-being of their pupils and giving advice in particular cases. Of the schools visited, 18 were returned as “ nothing to report ” and the various defects found in the remainder by the Medical Officers were notified to the appropriate section of the Education Department for consideration and, if practicable, necessary action. In some instances the defects were attributable to the age of the buildings and could not easily be rectified. The principal defects reported were :—inadequacy of washing facilities, including the absence of hot water, (18) ; inadequacy of lavatory accommodation, (13) ; defects of lighting and heating, (11) ; disrepair of playground surfaces and lack of sufficient shelters, (11) ; insufficiency of cloakroom accommodation, (8) ; absence or inadequacy of a medical inspection room, (6) ; insufficiency of staffroom accommodation, (6). Other complaints included insufficiency of classroom accommodation, (4) ; disrepair or insufficiency of drinking fountains, (3) and various other defects, mostly structural. Below are given summarised extracts from a report prepared by the Architectural and Planning Department (Education) relating to the work wholly completed during the year ended 31st July, 1953, (exclusive of work carried out on a jobbing basis) in schools and other educational establishments. The total number of establishments affected is shown in parenthesis for each group listed. Washing facilities. Installation or renewal of baths, shower fittings, wash-hand basins, sinks, water heaters and hot water supplies. (26). Lavatories. New water-closets ; renewal of or repair to existing lavatories. (13).