The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-05-12
OBJECTS OF INSPECTION.

The primary object OF medical IN
spectiOn in schools was the detection OF
infectious and CONTAGIOUS diseases ant
the exclusion OF pupils likely - spread
same. An elaborate plan OF inspection
was adopted in New York City. CaIl-
dren having dipbtheria, measles, scariet
fever, chickenpox, whoof ing cough
muuss, acute catarrhal infection Of the
nose and throat, pediculosls, contagious
eve or skin diseases. were sent home
In the first month l0,561 children were
excluded from school attendance. Real
Izing at once the seriousness of such a
condition, the departments of Health
and Education, cooperating. adopted a
scheme whereby children with minor
contagious diseases, including pedIcu-
losis. eye and skin diseases. might re
main in school if undergoing persistent
and continuous treatment This was
rendered possible and safe through the
appointment of school nurses. who gave
minor treatments at school and visited
the homes. As result, IS per cent.
of the children who would otherwise
have been excluded were enabled to
remain without danger of exposing
others. New York 5 general system OF
records and notifications is indicated on
card No. ,. There is a supervising
nurse having general charge of all
nurses, who must be trained A nurse
IS assigned TO a group of schools which
she visits each day at specific time.
In a special room or portion of the hall
screened off are referred to her all chill
dren suspected by the teacher of need
ing any attention. Minor treatments
may be given by her and directions for
home treatment. Careful individual
records are kept. Cases showing symp-
toms of diphtheria, scarlet fever, mea-
sizes, whoopfng cough, chickenpox, or
are excluded and the inspector
notified. The nurse makes weekly in
spection of the eyelids, hair, skin and
throat of each pupil. She also visits
the homes and shows how to treat and
encourages persistent treatment. Medi-
zeal inspectors, all physicians. visit each
school once a day and examine pri-
vately-
1st, all children isolated as being sus-
pected of having contagious diseases;
End, all children who have been alb
sent from school,;
Bird, all children returning after pre-
4th, all children previously under
treatment:
5th. all children referred to them by
he school nurse for diagnosis;
9Th, all children affected showing no
signs of treatment.
The medical inspector gives no treat
nent whatever but notifies the parents
If defects and necessity for treatment
4 nd fnII oh -
treatment is given. The homes of alb
;entees are visited where sickness is
At the beginning of each
ERIN the medical inspector examines
he eyelids, throat, skin and hair of
ZACH pupil but without touching them,
Is shown by the photograph on card
70. 2. In 1905, New York still further
Elaborated its plan and now makes a
complete physical examination of each
hildy as indicated on the physical
ecord card shown on exhibit No. 2.
nd sf1e parents are notified of any de-
ects. From March 9th to December
Bird, 1905, s., 1882 children were examined
nd 1851 cases of treatment found
ecessary. Their system, however, re-
uced absenteeism from 1924 in 1903
o 1884 in 1905.
HAWAITS NEED.
Does Hawaii need any such system?
he following may be partial answer. |
During the last twelve months the fol-
owing treatments were given at the
ispensary for children from only
welve of our city schools: tonsilitis, 2;
sthma II; bronchitis 10; scabies IS; |
numps "a; eczema s: cough SO: heart |
rouble 20; toothache %; extractions |
); boils II: styes 10: earaehe 20; and |
1 other causes necessitating 65S treat |
lents.
PRODUCTION OF CRIME.
1t is today an almost universally ad- |
nitted fact that backwardness, way |
hardness, truancy, degeneracy and |
rhine in the young are in a large ma |
0rity of cases traceable to some physi- |
al defect, and that the eradication of |
uch defect tends to change the whole |
fe history of the child. Examples |
7ithout number might be given. In /
he Middlesex County Truant School. |
out of g. boys were found to have |
hysical defects. In the Disciplinary
chool of Saginaw. Michigan, every
upil had defect of sight, or hearing or
9th. In our own Boys Industrial |
chool, a medical inspection about a
ear ago, showed a number of aggra-
ated cases. 1t is a noteworthy fact |
nat without inspection and correction
Effects increase rather than decrease
uring school life, and that many a
hid leaves school more poorly fitted
Or Iife's work than when he entered.
5 it not reasonable to believe, with the
mount of accumulated evidence from
II over the world, that if a proper
ystem of medical inspection were in
-oduced into our Hawaiian educational
ystem the next generation and sue
aeding ones would produce better
-udents and better physically equipped
itizens and that any sums expended
'ould be more than compensated for
Y increased intelligence and greatly
.SSened tendency to crime?
FAULTY GRADING
Much criticism is made of the present
ay methods of grading children; that |
he good and bad, the sub-normal and |
he precocious, are made to mingle in
iscriminately because of an age stand /
I'd OF grading. The Department Of |
hid Study and Pedagogic Investiga- |