[School health services in Norway--rise and fall]

Professional interest in school hygiene and in the health of the pupils developed in Europe towards the middle of the 19th century. In Norway, professional discussion started with two lengthy debates in the Norwegian Medical Society in Oslo in 1866 and 1868. An important issue was the possible overburdening of the pupils with school work. Some private schools had their school doctor at that time, while public schools had to wait until 1896 or later before they got a school doctor. As head of the school health service in Oslo 1918-32 and professor of hygiene 1932-38, Carl Schiøtz had a dominant influence on the school health service in the years between the two world wars. In many respects the work was successful. Eradication of poverty and other profound changes in society after World War II called for a modernization of the school doctors' work. However, stagnation and regression have taken place. Since 1 January 1984, school health services have been administered by the local authorities. This decentralization has been detrimental to the school health services in many municipalities. Some proposals to improve the situation are mentioned briefly.