Distributed by Oxford Films and produced by Moreland-Latchford Productions in Canada, this 1972 eight-minute short titled “Just Awful” chronicles an incident common to most school-aged children – a fall during recess and the subsequent visit to the nurse’s office. With permission from Addison Wesley Publishing Company, this film is an adaptation of the text “Just Awful” which was originally published in 1971 by Alma Marshak Whitney. While it is not explicitly clear why the film was produced, the expertise of elementary guidance counselor for the North York Board of Education, Joy Longfield, was consulted so perhaps this film was intended to be a PSA to encourage young students in Toronto’s public school system to utilize nursing services. It is worth noting that the film was directed by Mark Harris and narrated by Norma Clarke and featured a cast that included Jeffrey Toner, Beth Ames, Colin Humphries, Carol Woodward, and Geraldine Waterman.
Young boy runs stick along chain link fence of schoolyard (0:23). Recess bell goes off and kids run towards the school entrance (0:25). The young boy, James, falls and cuts his finger (0:45). James enters the classroom to find a teacher, all the students and teacher stare at him (0:53). Teacher, Mrs. Smith, writes James a note to see the nurse (1:22). Somber music plays while James walks through the school to the nurse (1:28). James encounters other students at the nurse’s office (2:10). Details of the nurse’s office – clock face, fish bowl with goldfish (2:58). Shot of nurse’s office featuring divider, scale, and nurse standing over her desk (4:15). James explaining what happened (4:23). Nurse walks James through the “three-part treatment” (4:44). Close-up of Nurse holding James’ hand under running tap and applying soap (5:10). Close-up of nurse applying band-aid (5:46). Nurse embraces James in a hug (6:13). Cheery music as James runs the halls back to his classroom (6:27). Mrs. Smith writes simple arithmetic on the whiteboard with chalk (6:39). James enters the classroom with a big smile on his face (6:45). James goes to the board to fill-in the answers of the equations (7:02). Close-ups of faces of other students in the class smiling (7:03).
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