CO885-9 — Page 457

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

9PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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I enclose a special report on the teaching of sanitation in schools. The first step that had to be taken in that direction was to educate the School Board, which is composed of certain officials and representatives of the different denominational schools that receive subsidies from the Treasury. It is not always an easy matter to get over this first preliminary stage, but it is highly necessary that the school authorities, whoever they may be, should be won over from the beginning. The next proceeding was the preparation of a scheme to carry out my original idea of giving school grants on the basis of results in reading, writing, arithmetic, and sanitation, the last being put on an equal footing with the other three. An outline of this scheme will be found in the paper enclosed, headed "Teaching of Sanitation in Schools." A preliminary and preparatory course of lectures on hygiene was delivered in Lagos by Dr. Best; a copy of his lectures is enclosed herewith. Then followed, a few months later, a more elaborate course, of which I enclose a copy, by the Principal Medical Officer, Dr. Strachan, C.M.G. These courses were well attended by the teachers of the subsidised schools, hospital nurses, and attendants, and by the public, audiences varying from about a hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty. Then followed examinations. Teachers that obtained first and second class certificates were deemed fit to teach sanitation in the schools. Twenty-eight teachers received certificates at the first and second examinations. Ninety- eight scholars were presented for the first examination. They were between 13 and 20 years of age. In May last, 276 scholars entered for examination in sanitation, and of these 170 were successful. The nature of the examination will be learned from the enclosed "Syllabus for the guidance of Students and Examiners." It need hardly be pointed out that much depends on how teaching is carried on in detail. All lectures are illustrated by lantern slides, and by such practical demonstrations as occur to the ingenuity of the lecturer or teacher. For example, let me mention the method adopted this year to teach the development of the mosquito. I found last year that notwithstanding all that has been done by such great teachers as Celli, Grassi, &c., in Italy, I could not convince the railway employés in the Agro Romano that mosquitoes were hatched out the black wriggling larvæ I showed them in the water receptacles in their gardens. I saw at once that the way to teach that branch of the subject in schools is to provide each teacher with a given number of larvæ in water in a clear glass bottle, which he produces in his class each day, and makes the scholars count the larvæ and pupa once daily till all are hatched out into the fully developed insect. I had the teachers assembled and instructed by Dr. Best and Mr. Carr how this was to be done. In a week or two after, one met scholars at any corner in Lagos with a bottle hunting for mosquito larvæ to watch for themselves the wonders of their development. This subject is now better known by the school children of Lagos than by the trained and experi- enced employés of the Italian Railways.

The Legislature has voted money for special prizes to those scholars that most distinguish themselves in sanitation at the school exhibition. Forty-four scholars took part in the competition last year, and the judges considered that they showed sound knowledge of the elementary laws of health.

Education has not been confined to the schools of Lagos. I have myself trans- lated the best papers and reports on malaria published in German, French, and Italian, and have had them reproduced in the Government Gazette, and numerous copies distributed.

Dr. Obasa, a native of the country, delivered in Yoruba a short course of lectures at Abeokuta. These have been printed, and I enclose a copy* herewith. Consider- able interest has been aroused in that town, the authorities of which have appointed, and pay, a staff of vaccinators and Sanitary Inspectors.

Lectures have also been delivered by Dr. Rice at Ibadan, of which I enclose a specimen. Those delivered by Dr. Read at Badagry have not been published.

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It will be noticed that I attach the greatest importance to educating young and old in matters of sanitation. That principle is kept steadily in view in all that is done here. I have omitted all reference to our dispensaries, to the Ladies' League, and many other matters that have already been brought to your notice.

There can be no doubt that sanitation can be successfully taught in primary and

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secondary schools. Manifestly the course of tuition would be widely different in Essex and Lagos, for example. Here it is sometimes found easier to interest and instruct the scholars of the public schools in such matters than it is to overcome the obstinate ignorance of Europeans whose sanitary education has been delayed till it is too late; but this is only another proof that sanitation should be taught in all public schools to those whose minds are receptive and not warped by prejudice. I therefore respectfully urge that hygiene should be taught by every teacher in every school, without reference to colour, race, or religion. It would be necessary that a handbook or primer should be prepared for each place to suit its special needs. I trust I may be able to have the Lagos one completed before long. This is a somewhat serious task here, as it has to be printed in Yoruba as well as in English, and I have not yet got the Yoruba type required for this purpose.

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SPECIAL REPORT ON THE Teaching of SaNITATION IN SCHOOLS.

1902-1903.

On the 21st of February, 1902, the Board of Education adopted a scheme for the teaching of sanitation in schools, which was prepared by the Principal Medical Officer (Honourable Dr. Strachan) and the Inspector of Schools. With this scheme was incorporated the syllabus of the lectures on elementary hygiene which were delivered to school teachers, hospital nurses, and the public of Lagos by the Principal Medical Officer.

2. With a view to enabling the teachers (male and female) of the assisted schools of the Colony to qualify themselves to teach elementary hygiene, it was arranged that they should present themselves for the examinations for sanitation certificates which were based on the subject matter of Dr. Strachan's lectures. Two such examinations have been held, one on the 3rd of January, 1902, by Dr. Strachan, and the other on the 4th of the following July by Dr. Hopkins (Acting P.M.O.). At the first examination seven teachers obtained first class certificates and three obtained certificates of the second class out of a number of 22 successful candidates. At the second examination six teachers obtained first class certificates and twelve obtained certificates of the second class, out of a total number of 27 successful candidates.

3. Having thus secured qualified teachers, some of the schools were enabled to take up the teaching of sanitation in the month of April, 1902, after the Easter holidays, and others were able to do so in the month of July, 1902, after the half- yearly holidays.

4. The first examination of schools in sanitation was held in connection with the C.M.S. Grammar School in the month of October, 1902. The number of scholars presented for the examination was 98, and of these 58 were successful. The scholars were between the ages of 13 and 20, and had made about 23 attendances on an average in the sanitation classes of the school. They were all examined on paper and in the subjects assigned for the first stage of the scheme approved by the Board of Education. They evinced considerable interest in the study, and, in many cases, the papers sent up attested their intelligent knowledge of the subject as far as it is contained in Dr. Strachan's lectures.

5. It had been proposed that the oral examination of the elementary schools in sanitation should take place early in the present year, soon after the conclusion of the annual inspection of schools. But, owing to various causes, this examination was not held until the last week of the month of May. Five elementary schools presented 276 scholars, and of these 170 were successful. With the exception of 21 scholars, all those who were sent up from the elementary schools were examined in general knowledge of sanitation, as provided in the scheme; the remaining 21 scholars were examined in Stage I. The examination was oral all throughout, and was conducted through the medium of the Yoruba language. The scholars were between 9 and 15 years of age, and had made attendances ranging between 13 and 40 at the sanitation classes of their respective schools. In these schools also the children on the whole gave very interesting and intelligent answers to the questions put to them. I consider the results in both classes of schools very important and more than satisfactory for a beginning, and I have no doubt that nearly all the schools in Lagos will send up scholars for the next examination in sanitation.

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