§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if any, and what, means are at present in force to prevent children suffering from contagious diseases attending national schools in the ordinary way.
§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any provision is made, for the systematic medical inspection of pupils attending national schools in Ireland with respect to defective sight, hearing, or with regard to skin diseases; and, if not, will he direct the attention of the Commissioners to the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they direct the exhibition in every national school of a printed notice calling attention to the penalties for sending children to school who have been suffering from infectious disorders. The Commissioners have also recently sanctioned the exhibition in every national school of a poster calling attention to the dangers of consumption and the measures to be adopted to prevent the spread of the disease; and in the new edition of "Notes for Teachers," which the Commissioners are about to issue, a special chapter is devoted to school hygiene, and teachers are instructed as to the general signs of infectious diseases. Managers and teachers are empowered to exclude from national schools children suffering from infectious diseases. The Answer to the hon. Member's second Question is in the negative. The matter is already within the knowledge and consideration of the Commissioners.