The Assessment of the Growth of Schoolchildren with Special Reference to Secular Changes

Abstract

An interesting phenomenon, prominent in the present century, is a secular change in the pattern of growth of schoolchildren. It is usually regarded simply as an increase in the average height and weight of children of school age. This aspect, however, may be misleading and is not altogether satisfactory for comparative purposes. The change was therefore investigated, first in terms of age of attaining a given height or a given weight, and then in terms of rate of growth. This approach leads to the view that the secular change in the pattern of growth is essentially an acceleration.