Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07
WELFARE OF CHILDREN
MONDAY EVENING CLUB COM.
MITTEE OUTLINES WORK.
Suggestions Made for the Benefit OF
School Pupils-Medical In
spections Discussed.

A session was held last evening OF the
committee on the physical welfare VI
school children, which was appointed at
the last meeting of the Monday Evening
Club. The committee met at the resi-
dence of Rev. John Van Schaick, Jr.,
chairman of the executive committee OF
the Monday Evening Club. 1411 Massa-
ch,,setts avenue northwest. DIR. Merrill
E. Gates, formerly president Of Amherst
College and now secretary of the Inolaii
claims commission. was elected chair-
man of the committee and Miss Flora
l.. Hendley, supervising principal of pup
lie schools. was elected secretary.
DR.. Willard Small. principal Of the
Eastern High School, outlined the posi-
BILE work of the committee. Even If ap-
propriations for adequate medical in
spection in the public schools could not be
secured. he Said, it would be entirely pos
sible to get a subcommittee OF ocuilsts
who would volunteer their services 10
the community and investigate the SUP
iect of the care of children's eyes. A
subcommittee of dentists could lnvesti-
gate as to the care of children's teeth.
Question of Malnutrition.
The question of malnutrition Of chill
dren, which had brought this committee
together, was not due, he asserted. 70
anv considerable extent, at least, to pow
erty. To some extent, he asserted, II
was due to carelessness or ignorance In
the home-in many cases to the organic
condition of the child. When children
have no appetite in the morning 1t was
due many times to the fact that they Ola
not have sleep enough, and the reason
they did not have sleep enough was IN
some cases due to the fact that they
STAYED up late studying their lessons.
Thus in some cases he believed that the
school itelf produced the evils winch IL
was irving to combat. 1t was imperative.
he asserted, that a thorough system OF
nhysieal examination be established
DR.. George NJ Kober reported for the
Presidents homes commission, and urged
also the necessity of a larger NUMBER OF
medical inspectors for the SCHOOLS. lie
took strong ground against the scnoo'
providing luncheon free OF chaIge. as I'D I,as
been done in some other cities. Inc
committee was unanimous In ITS OPPOSE
ton to "school feeding as it is called
here in Washington.
Regarded as Inadequate.
James e. West, secretary of the Wash
ington Playground Association, asserted
that the present medical inspection OF
schools is entirely inadequate. Medical
INSPECTORS confine their efforts to the de-
lection of contagious diseases, he said
They are young men on small salaries,
he asserted. and can only give part OF
their time to the schools what was
needed was such inspection as would as
certain whether school work was break
ing down the health of the pupil before
it was too late. He urged the publica,
ton of a simple pamphlet for the benefit
Of all the parents OF the community, CIV
against the dangers of cheap iunchrooms
hurried breakfasts, and other things
which break down the health OF cnlldreH
Miss Hendley stated that through the
efforts of the Instructive Vlsltlhs NuIs e
Society, a nurse had &C. set TO WORK
in the northeast in connection with Se
school system to inspect the healtn OIL
the pupils and to bring necessary cases
to the attention of the parents. Inc
parents thus far. she asserted. had re-
ceived the nurse with the heartiest Co
oneration. and she believed the expert
ment would be so successful that II
would not prove difficult 10 get dE dp-
propriation from Congress 1or nurses III
the public schools ,,o.o,,
Dr Small said that there were dozen
American cities in which the nurse was
a. much a part of the public school sys-
tenn as the teacher.
Series of Lectures Proposed.
DIR William C. Gwynne urged series
Of popular lectures for the education OF
parents. such as has been carried on by
the tuberculosis committee, and sub
committee was appointed to investigate
the possibility Of such a course.
The physical standards of boys in
Washington. said Mr.. W. Is. Cooper OF
the Y NJ. c. A., are higher than IN the
average American city.
II have spent seven years in associa-
tion work in Brooklyn and ten years in
New England. and the physical standard
of Washington boys is higher than in any
other city with which 1 am acquaintef
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey. Supt. of
Public Schools A. T. Stuart, DIR. Walter
s JJfford Of the Associated Charities, DIR.
Bryant and others took part in the dis
cussion.
Committee of Conference.
A resolution was unanimously adopted
that a committee of five be appointed
by the chairman to confer with the health
department and arrange for the publica-
ton of a pamphlet OF the feeding of
school children, and other matters con-
nected with their health. If this PAM
phlet cannot be distributed at the expense
of the District government, it is pro-
posed to raise funds by subscription for
the purpose. 1t was decided also to ap-
point committee of three to outline
the future work of the general commit
tee.
The committee on the physical welfare
of school children is made up of the
following members: DIR. NJ. E. Gates,
Supt. A. T. Stuart, DR.. Willard Small,
Miss Emma Jacobs. DIR. George NJ Kober,
Mr.. w. X. Cooper, Miss Flora L. Hend-
ley Mrs. Ellen s. Mussey, Mr.. James E.
West. DR.. William c. Woodward, DR..
Jesse Ramsburgh, DR.. William c.