New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-17
FOR OUSTED SCHOLARS.
MISS wALp HAS PLAN TO CARE FOR
TWO THOUSAND YOUNGSTERS
BARRED FOR PHYSICAL
UNFITNESS.


Miss Lillian Wald. head worker at the Nurses
sstrle-ne-t on Henry-st. IS greatly interested IN
tie Introduction Of q force OF trained nurses INTO
tae public schools 70 follow upon the medical ex-
E-r-a1ion Of the pupils. and care for those chill
rreo who are excluded on account OF physical IN
fitness The inspection Of TIE pupils OF the public
schools u the examiners OF the Board Of Health
has been very rigid this year, and more than Two
thousand children have been excluded either on &C
count Of some contagious disease OF else for an IN
clean state OF the body and clothing which has
made them unit 10 rningle with other pupils.
On Monday evening Dr. Lederle. president OF
the Board o. Health. and NJ. Birmingham, presi-
Gent Of The Board Of Education, dined informally
with Miss Wald at the settlement and discussed
tie scheme Of trained nurses for these excluded
cases. The plan IS not original with Miss Wald.
hut was Instituted in London by Miss Honor
No-teu z weil-krOH1 social worker, and some OF
the settlement workers there. Its sole purpose is
70 take II charge The pupils barred and 10 go 70
the homes 70 see that the mothers follow out the
requirements Of the child faithfully and fnteIli-
gently.
The establish ent Of corps Of trained nurses IN
connection with the medical inspection OF public
schools was one Of the subjects discussed yester-
Gay forenoon at q conference held in Dr. Lederles
office between Dr. Lederle and some Of his staff
who are directly interested IN the work OF the
Board O.; Health in the public schools. Mr. Bur
bingham and Dr. Maxwell, superintendent Of city
schools. While nothing whatever was decided re-
Earding It, and the whole scheme is as yet theo-
reJical far as New-York Is concerned those
present are said 10 have favored It. and the Board
o. Health Viii seriously consider the ACCESSIBILITY
e7d praCtcability o. its Introduction.
Dr.. Lederle who was seen Yesterday bv = Tribune
reporter. spoke ct length upon the campaign that
TIE Health Board IS vaging so vigorously in the
schools
For five years past the board has been conduct
Ing medical examination OF the schools, but IL
vas quite perfunctory business he said "A
medical inspector would 60 to the principal Of
school with Good-morning- Any cases today
And he OF she would reply No and then II would
r. Good-morning' again and walk on 10 the next
school Not once in q dozen visits would there be
anything for the physician do. Now the plan Is
for each school physician 20 have three schools
u1cer his care These he must examine each day
AZ the first school, where he Is due at o'clock he
Inquiries OF the principal whether there are any
cases requiring his attention and II there are he
e1tencs 70 them Al the second school he does the
sane, bUt with the third be makes tour OF each
RON. examining every pupil IL It. Next day one
o. ne first two schools IS examined in the same
way. and on the third DAY the last OF the three
schools receives the same thorough examination
VIE the result that every pupil IN the New-York
PUBIC schools IS examined every third day by
Beard Of Health physician.
experience has taught US continued Dr. Led
e1le. mat this frequent. thorough inspection is
.iOne zoo much Over Two thousand children have
Deen fond VINO were physically unfit for school
showing the need OF the strict precautions taken.
HoeF me Old system less than 10 per OF these
r@SeS would have been discovered in the length OF
TINE IN which have found them out The chill
orsn whom the examiners have received orders TO
exclude are those showing contag fous diseases,
whether developing. present recent; acute catar-
rhai conditions Of the eyes nose and throat; con-
'agloas eye Diseases parasitic diseases OF the skin
ano thr0at and pediculosis OF the head, body
cotalng. What does pediculosis mean? Well, IN
is AT VIII civ rs
me most trouble. The majority Of exclusions have
oeen On that account. often children coming from
quite good families afflicted IN this way. Natu-
fally the parents are incensed when their children
are sent home that account Frequently these
Parents. N a state Of intense indignation. bring
1heir children to the Board Of Health to show US
mat there Is nothing the matter with them, so /
nave physicians here TO show them as gently as
may be why the children should not go to school
But this is delicate matter OF course. there
great many exclusions for other reasons that
icrttate the parents who also come in person, de-
iasad.ng q know why their children dismissed
The action Of the Board Of Health has been Sc
Ferely criticised by reason Of its stringent meas
1res but present action IS only part Of our gen
eral campaign against disease.
Schools offer q peculiarly favorable breeding
Place fer gfous diseases by OF the large
sggregations OF children and the close contact
with each other which is possible among the pupils.
The present system has proved an excellent one
Asked with regard yesterdays conference be-
tween Mr.. Birmingham, Dr.. Maxwell and himself
4JT LederIe replied: Although. Mr. Birmingham and
had talked the matter over together many times.
thts was the first meeting at which Dr. Maxwell
had been present We went over the ground pretty
thoroughly ] gave statistics showing the number
q explosions. the number OF children examined,
re method OF inspection. etc. The members from
ne Board OF Education spoke from their stand
Pplht- AID ] should like 10 state right here. in
r Dew OF the press reports Of friction between the
Board sF Education and myself that in
ssaoFougn accord. not only as TO what has been
rTSne but concerning what fs going 20 be done
lture work Will be done with the thorough
oler@ton CT the two departments Certain things
were suggested by the members of the Board of
&c acatioa as 10 the carrying out OF the scheme
81 20 5e easier for the children and the teachers.
snich ] was very glad TO have suggested. and /
sffeec with them have insisted and shall n
isst On thoroughncss OF the most uncompromising
1a.o IN connection with q matter CT recognized i'm
tgscstsnce like this but j hope and expect that
III. 1tty this medical inspection In the public schools
80 De conducted without friction to pupils, par
rsss teachers or principals. Besides the com
tsssnts Of the parents. there have been protests
~pm teachers and principals that sending the chill