Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-09
HEALTH OF PUPILS
School Matters Discussed by East
Washington Association.
home STUDY IN The MINOR GRADES
Health Officer Woodwards Views
Of Medical Inspections.
RAILWAY GRADE CROSSINGS

The announcement that the discussion of
| the school question would claim the atten-
ton of the Northeast Washington Citizens
| Association at last nights meeting had the
effect of attracting large number of in
terested taxpayers to the meeting. Chair
man Loring Chapel Of the school COM
mittee submitted a report, which was as
follows:
I'VE believe that the health of the pupils
is a question of paramount interest, not only
to the parents, but to the state, and we
most respectfully recommend that the Dis
trict Commissioners be requested to submit
the question Of medical supervision of our
schools to the medical societies for their
discussion and opinion.
I'VE most cordially indorse rule No. "a
of the rules of the public schools adopted
January r. asS9, which forbids assigning
lessons for home study to children below
the sixth grade, and we most earnestly rec
Ommend its re-enactment and strict en-
forcement as conducive to the health of
children of tender age We would especial
ly insist that the play rooms be opened on
each schoo. day not later than $50 o'clock,
and that no child be compelled or allowed
to go out of the school building during a
transient rain storm, and that proper at
tention be given to children with damp or
wet clothing or shoes.
After diigent inquiry we learned that
the Pierce, Madison and Taylor buildings
are overcrowded with children, said build
ings having ten, eight and six halliday
classes, respectively, while the Blair and
Hayes buildings have four halliday seS-
sions each. We therefore most earnestly
recommend that the appropriation for the
school at 18th and Rosedale streets be in
creased sufficiently to build as was orig
inaly intended; that an appropriation for
a site and eight-room building near 18th
street and Florida avenue be urged, and
that said appropriations be made immedi-
ately available, as the population of those
neighborhoods is rapidly increasing.
I'VE would also request the Commission
ers to include in their estimates next year
an item for the purchase of site and cree
ton of building in Northeast Washington,
to be used for manual training school.
I'VE have heard many complaints which
we think well founded, to the construc-
ton and heating and ventilating of many
of the buildings, as also of the text books
and curriculum in general, but these sub
tects We will defer for future consideration
and special report"
Health Officers Views.
Health officer Woodward, who was pres
ent by special invitation, spoke particularly
on the question Of providing medical in
spectors for the public schools. As has
already been published, DR.. Woodward ia
vors such inspectors, and says that in cities
where they are provided a great amount
of good has been accomplished. The doc
tor said he thought educators usually make
the mistake of failing to separate the in
tellectual from the physical education of
the pupil They are educating the mind to
the neglect of the body. Many of the pu-
nils in the schools, he said, are more ambl-
tious than their physical conditions war
rant. and their parents are also too ambi-
tious for them. This condition of affairs.
he said, accounts for many physical wrecks
among children. He hoped the time would
sc on come when the question of the physi-
cal condition would be taken into considera-
ton when promotions are made.
Dr. Woodward said that in cities where
the system OF medical inspectors for the
schools had been adopted the results had
been gratifying. Among other things, such
inspectors would prevent certain GONZALES
cents from returning to school too soon. He
nonted out that the INSPECTORS would save
the health Of many Individual pupils. Many
children are injured. while in school or on
the playground. and they often do not get
the necessary treatment. He also spoke OF
the work the teachers might do in con-
nection with the work of the inspectors.
The teachers could set aside all pupils who
appeared to be i'll, or showed symptoms of
some diseases common among children, and
have them examined by the inspectors.
In conclusion DR.. Woodward said the ap-
pointnent of medical inspectors for the
schools would cost about $4,000 annually.
He was satisfied that good results would
be obtained, and the only question IS. will
1t pay to expend this amount? He ex-
pressed the belief that the expenditure of
the money in this way would be good
investment.
Favors the System.
DR.. J. w. Chappell, a member of the
committee on public health of the Wash
ington Medical Society, addressed the
ISOLATION on the work of his committee. He
favors the adoption of the system of medi-
cal inspectors but said he thought Con-
gress should give an annual appropriation
of $4,000. as the work is Of so much i'm
nortance. An appropriation of this amount.
he said. would be about 81 for each pupil.
DR.. Chappell dwelt at length upon the SUBJ
iect of tuberculosis, and said many cases
could be prevented If medical inspectors
were duty in the schools. He told of
work that is being done by the medical So
ciey in connection with the school children.
Charts were exhibited showing the work
that has been already accomplished. He
advocated large Fairgrounds in connection
with every school building. and concluded
by saying he thought every school building
should be a palace of health.
Brought Home Contagious.
Mr. Foster of the school committee said
his children brought home three contagious
diseases during two years, and it was his
belief that they could have been avoided
Among other diseases brought home
the WnOoplng cough, ana MI roster Salu
he took the disease himself. He complained
that children are compelled to study bot
any and geology when many of the teach
ers are not familiar with the subjects.
Children, he said frequently required
to sit up at night and study when they
should be resting.
Mr. Foster told of interviews he had had
with school officials and concluded by tell
ing of the number of schools in some of
the buildings.
Mr. H. B. Whitney said he thought the
schools here good as they are in any
other city and he thought Mr.. Fosters re-
marks about the teachers We're unwar-
ranted The study of botany and geology
he regarded as a good thing for the chill
dren So far as he understood, they are
taught the formations of leaves and some
thing about different stones and this in
formation he said would not hurt any child.
According to Mr.. Fosters statements, he
said, many of the schools are held in ses-
sion only three hours. and children who
spend so short a time in school should GER
tainly not complain about little study at
home There are also many people he
said, who are always Ready to complain
Mr.. Foster explained that he meant no
criticism of the teachers, for whom he had
the greatest admiration. The compensa-