The origins and development of the School Medical Service 1870-1919
This thesis attempts to provide a detailed account of the process by which medical supervision of the health of school children became established in England and Wales. The analysis focuses primarily on the foundation of the School Medical Service in 1907 and its subsequent history. Although the School Medical Service itself is sometimes regarded as a consequence of the fears about the national condition aroused by the South African War, evidence suggests that the earliest attempts to monitor the physical condition of school children occurred during the school board era, when the links between health and nutrition and educational performance became apparent. A consequence of the ad hoc development of work in the field of school hygiene during this period was the emergence of a number of political, professional and even personal disputes following the establishment of the School Medical Service nationally. These meant that uniformity of~standards and of administration had not been achieved by the outbreak of the First World War. Particular difficulties were encountered in London, which is the subject of a special study. Despite these, there was a gradual growth in medical treatment and other non-mandatory services,
Hirst, David
History
The origins and development of the School Medical Service 1870-1919. This thesis attempts to provide a detailed account of the process by which medical supervision of the health of school children became established in England and Wales. The analysis focuses primarily on the foundation of the School Medical Service in 1907 and its subsequent history. Although the School Medical Service itself is sometimes regarded as a consequence of the fears about the national condition aroused by the South African War, evidence suggests that the earliest attempts to monitor the physical condition of school children occurred during the school board era, when the links between health and nutrition and educational performance became apparent. A consequence of the ad hoc development of work in the field of school hygiene during this period was the emergence of a number of political, professional and even personal disputes following the establishment of the School Medical Service nationally. These meant that uniformity of~standards and of administration had not been achieved by the outbreak of the First World War. Particular difficulties were encountered in London, which is the subject of a special study. Despite these, there was a gradual growth in medical treatment and other non-mandatory services,
origin_development school medical_service attempt_provide detailed_account process medical supervision health school_child become_establish england_wales analysis focus_primarily foundation school medical_service subsequent history although school medical_service sometimes regard consequence fear national condition arouse south african war evidence_suggest early attempt monitor physical condition school_child occur school_board era link health nutrition educational performance become_apparent consequence hoc development work field school hygiene period emergence number political professional even personal dispute follow establishment school medical_service nationally meant uniformity administration achieve outbreak first_world_war particular difficulty_encounter london subject special study despite gradual growth medical treatment non mandatory service