The Washington times., 1909-04-12
PLAN To EXAMINE
SCHOOL CHILDREN
"A Appropriation to Be Asked
| To Provide More Medical
Be Inspectors.
NO SYSTEM BEFORE,
SAYS WOODWARD
Force Inadequate For Thorough In
spection-FavorS Plan Fol-
lowed in New York.

In order that systematic medical in
Epection nay be made Of the public
schools, Commissioner mcfarland will
recommend to the Commissioners that
they include in their next estimates to
Congress. an appropriation providing
for an increased number of inspectors
in report on the medical inspection
of the schools submitted to Commits
Eioner mcfarland. the statement is
made by Health Officer w. C. Wood
ward that no systematic effort has ever
been made to thoroughly examine all
She pupils.
The medical inspection Of public
schools in this District, as organized
under the regulations governing such
inspections aims primarily to accom-
plish three things" says DR.. Woodward.
What 1t Does
To prevent any pupil from attending
school who is suffering from defect or
disease which renders his presence ma
terially detrimental to the welfare or
abe safety OF other pupils. or any pupil
whose attendance at school will ma
1erislly Jeapardize his own health when
the condition out of which such Jeopar-
dy arises is of a temporary character.
To advise the principal Of the school
building with reference to all matters
of hygiene or sanitation which are
brought TO the inspectors attention re-
sating to school administration. and 10
invite the attention Of principals and
teachers TO such conditions in the school
room and in the building generally from
sanitary standpoint as require cor
Tection.
To see that applicants for admission
10 the normal school and pupils in that
school seeking graduation. and of APP
fsli~aufS f.ar arrOinfunCUf teachers D
3anitors, are physically mt for the
course OF training or for the work upon
which they seek to enter.
The service is by law under direction
OF the Health Office. but such regula-
tons as he makes concerning It must
have the approval Of the Commission
ers and the Board Of Education.
Medical Examination.
No systematic effort has been made
80 thoroughly examine physically all
the nupils in our schools. The number
of available medical inspectors, in view
of the fact that the salaries paid are
not large enough to justify calling upon
them 20 devote the entire day to their
official duties, has not been sufficient
20 permit the department to enter upon
such work AS IL is. each inspector Is
required to devote to his work not less
than three hours each school day. Any
material increase In the amount of time
required would tend TO drive the most
desirable men out of the service and TO
keep other good men out. In connec-
ticn with the recent investigation by
the Presidents Homes Commission,
however, a systematic II somewhat
superficial examination of all the pupils
sn the public schools was made by the
medical inspectors. with the following
results:
were found defective, and among white
pupils 5S.9 per cent. The percentage
In favor Of colored children was due
solely 10 the better condition of their
teeth. The percentage of defective
pupils among all children. white and
colored. was 35.5. Omitting the cases
ache, the percentage was 200 The fact
that toothache IN childhood is classed
as a defect worthy Of record indicates
that the situation is not so alarming
as the figures indicate, and this is prob
ably true with respect TO figures relat-
ing 10 other places.
Need of Change
The Health Officer has fully realized
for some time past the desirability Of
strengthening our medical inspection OF
schools. and is heartily in favor of the
systematic examination of all school
Children Such examination can not
be- made. however in a proper manner
with the force now available. The
Health Officers views are clearly shown
in the accompanying reprint from the
" dcHiuElpL AienlCdt Annals. puDNSncu
5n March. 1907. For the purpose Of i'm
proving the service. the Health Officer
3n the estimates which he submitted for
the expenses OF the Health Depart
ment during the coming fiscal year,
recommended that chief medical in
spector of schools be provided, at 81 500
per annum. that the number Of medical
Inspectors be increased from twelve to
eighteen, that their salaries be in
creased from 800 per annum TO $500 per
ann1irn. and that six school nurses he
provided at a salary Of $500 each. With
corps such as that proposed, the
Health Department, cooperating with
the Board of Education. would be able
TO maintain such a general system of
medical inspection as now exists in
Chicago. or better still, such a system
IS exists I'm New York city. where the
work seems to have reached its highest
development.