The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-10-05
AN IMPORTANT MATTER.


There seems to have been considerable
laxity among the government physi-
clans in examining pupils according to
reports made to the Board of Education
On the Island of Maui a teacher who
has recently taken charge of the school
at Ulupalakua reports that the children
in his school have not been examined
Tor three years, and that another school
in the vicinity lis in the same boat"
OF course there has been laxity on
the part of the teachers in not reporting
such a matter in the past but it is the
Board of Health physicians who has to
do the examining and according to the
regulations of that Board should do it
within fortnight of the time school
assemblies. A teachers examination
would naturally be of no avail medi-
calIy and yet In another case it saved a
school from the presence of a leprous
boy.
This second case reported is that of
Waihee school. There has been no ex-
animation this year, but none was held
last year though the teacher asked for
1t. On his own responsibility he refused
admittance to a boy during the whole
year and at the end of the time the boy
was pronounced a leper and sent to Mo-
lOEai. t.ar. -
That the Board is becoming properly
strict in this matter is evident by re-
cent circular which has been addressed
10 all the government physicians round
the islands. But that there was crying
need for reform is made potent by the
cases cited above. If it is true that
three places on Maui have been neglect
ed, it is more than likely that many
more have been neglected in other parts
of the islands. With the more extended
inspection of schools now being carried
on information upon such matters will
be more readily made known.
The reports bring up another matter
which has been alluded to in these
columns and in the columns of the press
generally. What is to be done for chill
dren who are refused admittance to
school for health reasons. 1t has been
already stated that there were six such
cases in Waialua, there are evidently
several at Waihee. and some of them of
long standing. The position of these
children is thoroughly anomalous. They
are not permitted to go to school, and
consequently grow up in ignorance and
yet there is no restriction upon their
mingling with the school children out
of school, and as a fact they do mingle
with them, joining in their games, bath
ing with them, riding with them, and
having intimate association with them
Mr.. Keliinoi, the normal instructor
for Maui very justly says either these
children are sick or they are well. If
they are sick they should be isolated so
as not to infect other children. If they
are well they should be in school. There
can be no doubt as to the seriousness
of the situation. 1t is one that must be
met. We have always been too prone
to put unpleasant questions aside and
shut our eyes to them, but that is not
the way to meet such things.
How many such children there may
be on the Islands no one at present
knows, but the Board of Health by its
recent circular is likely to have com
plete list within a short time. If the
number is to be judged by those at
Waialua and Waihee, it will be consi-
derable In the aggregate, though small
in each individual district. And II is
the smallness of the, number in each
district that makes the problem so diff
ficult What can be done with four or
six children who have to be treated on
different lines to other children in the
district. 1t would be impossible to put
one person in charge of so few. The
only thing would be to have some CEN
trail station where such children could
be properly cared for.