Story: Child and youth health

Medical examination at Belvue School, 1970

School children were examined by doctors employed by the School Medical Service from the 1920s. This girl was a pupil at Belvue School in Newlands, Wellington, in 1970. The doctor is checking her heart beat, watched over by her mother (seated).

Using this item

Archives New Zealand – Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Reference: AAQT 6401/A94,245
Photograph by J. Waddington

This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Child and youth health - Primary health initiatives', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/30333/medical-examination-at-belvue-school-1970 (accessed 6 May 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 29 Nov 2018

Comments

This photograph brings back

Susan muir (not verified)
10 December 2017

This photograph brings back horrible, terrifying memories of waiting in line to be the next victim having to remove our clothes except for underpants and get stared at by a teacher and public health nurse and asked questions. My mother was never present at any of the sessions and I don't know if she was asked. I was loved at home and had a safe and nurturing home life but I have never forgotten the sickening feeling of those horrible physical medical examinations. I think our public health system needs to apologise for putting innocent and vulnerable children through terrifying ordeals especially without the presence of their mums or dads. The other terrifying ordeal was having our hair searched for nits--- with no privacy.

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Story: Child and youth health