Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-01-25
VACCINATION.
State School Supt. Henry Raab
on the Subject.
DOES NOT UPHOLD colRuIs1ou

Whess He b u oy0pathy WleA the Lsw,
He Claims slss AssAosssy Cooes srou
The sesss Beard q Health Rather sAss
NE nssa q The ssAssas-ssgssst,oas %
- ssw ~ ed Dsslrea nay - OBTAINED.
State Superintendent Of Public In
struction Henry Raab has sent out .
circular. Of which . copy has been
received by County Superintendent
c. B. Marshall with instructions to
give II rs wide circulation rs posi-.
BILE. relative TO compulsory vaccina-
ton Of public school children. Mr..
Raab explains that the circular is
issued in answer in . general form
to inquiries that have been made re-
speeding the vaccination Of public
school children. and to correct mis-
representation of his advice rclat-
ing to the same. He holds that vac
cination OF pupils is not mentioned in
the school law, and the authority
school officers have to enforce it, is
not derived from the school law, but
from the order Of the state board Of
health, and the law establishing that
board. He alludes to the interpreta-
tion Of the Encouragement Of the
law establishing the state board of
health. that school officers are
included among all state officers ex-
pccted to enforce the law, and saws:
'.When, therefore, school officers
seek for the law or orders governing
their action in this matter. they find
them most directly in commu nicat.
ing with the state board of health. y
How to secure Vaccination.
Two ways are possible in which
school officers may work to secure
the vaccination Of school children,
the state superintendent suggests:
They may use their powers oi
persuasion. giving their influence in
all reasonable WAYS to secure the re-
suit. All school officers, he says
can do this, and only boards of iii.
rectors. or education, will find fielt
in which cocrcive power may he ex.
erciscd. These boards may consider
that. under the direction Of the state
board Of health, they may make reg
ulations, admitting to school priv
lcges only those who present salts
factory evidence Of vaccination. OF
the statement Of a physician that the
condition Of the pupil is such thai
vaccination would be attended with
risk Of injury. The untimely cxpul
sion Of = healthy pupil who has mem
bcrship in q public school. bccaus,
he is not vaccinatcd may not be il
accordance with a compulsory ut
tendance law. and this reason is mo-
included in the grounds which justi
~ expulsion. enumerated in tn,
school law. The gross disobedicncc
mentioned therein, as a justification
OF expulsion, undoubtedly. is a def
ance Of the rules of conduct ncces
sary for an orderly. moral and eff
Client school. II school board sus
pcnds pupil from school privileges
because he is not vaccinated, il cal
base its justification only on the reg
ulations of the state board of health
A school officer should remembe
that his duty as such officer, to sub
serve the best interests Of tn
schools, according to the direction
Of the school law is paramount
The vaccination Of pupils is not
part Of the work of the public school
and public school funds cannot b
used lawfully. to defray its expense
Favors Vaccination. Thoagh.
while I am heartily in sympath
; with the effort to secure the vaccins
ton Of all children of school age
and desire to encourage this effort I
extent Of my power. ! am assure
that need to caution public schot
officers against hasty. injudiciou'
insult and unlawful action in tn
premises. We must look to cOntii
ued, consistent efforts in the RICH
way, rather than to spasmodic an
abrupt attempts. for the best r.
SUITS