Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-02-04


of Board of Education
Prof. Warren Marks, of Paulsboro
schools, read a paper entitled "Edu-
cation Superlative.'
In the afternoon. Prof Steelman
met members of Boards of Education
in Woodbury. Academy. There was
fair attendance, and the session
was marked by a deep interest in
the papers read by Doctors L. M.
Halsey, H. A. Wilson and T. e. Par
ker, which we print for general in
formation
DIR. HALSEY'S PAPER.
One of the most interesting ques-
tions before the public to-day that is
receiving marked attention from the
educator, the sanitorian, the physi-
clan and the press, is the medical in
spection of schools. 1t is fast reach
ing that point where it ocupies all
most the centre of the stage, as does
the fight for the eradication Of tlber-
culosfs. In fact, l believe that it is
such an important factor, that it is
part of the plan of attack that no
successful battle can be waged against
tuberculosis without much care.
Careful consideration and the car
rying into effect of systematic in
spection of scholars and the schools
of our country. For in the school the
seed is sown which in after years de-
velops with such untimely results,
and in many cases almost as much
ia certainty as we know that another
day viii come. Are we NOT, there
fore, lax in our duty when we have
the most tangible proof that not only
tuberculosis but various skin diseases
and often the dread malady, sypli-
lis, is given by one scholar TO an
other with serious effect. MANY n
stances could be cited where the inn
print has been left upon child zen
which has gone through life with
them, blight not only to them bat a
marked stigma upon our so-called adj
vanced civilization. All over The coun-
try fine buildings are being erected
for the instruction of scholars, but the
safeguarding of their health, the hy
gienic condition of their bodies, the
development of their physical side has
not kept pace and is far in The rear
with the advancement mentally. Is
it not time to call halt and at least
size up the situation, see where it can
be improved, to take steps to prevent
many of the conditions existing at
the present day which should make
us bow our heads with shame There
is never a school term completed but
in some section of our fair land a
dread epidemic develops and fire.
quently before it is controlled many
graves, our monuments to almost Grim
inal negligence. A celebra5ad ply
sician has said that almost all dis
eases are preventible Almost every
medical school of note has course
of lectures on preventative medicine.
Isn't it we1l-known fact that prac-
tically every case of typhoid fever is
the result of our own negligence?
That it is the result of bad manage
ment in our food, milk or water sup
ply. Look at the terrible epidemic at
Ithaca, Scranton and Reading, and the
blight resting upon Philadelphia from
supplying their people with the con-
taminated water, or diluted sewage.
This condition would be almost en-
tirely eradicated if the water supply
was carefully guarded and systematic
cally inspected. Who would think of
giving to our horses and pigs such
water as many of the residents of
our cities drink? 1t is a sill. 5ular
thing that men will become almost
besides themselves over politics, over
comparatively minor questions, which
arise in every community, but will
pass by almost without thought,
qestions which are vital to their very
existence; questions which il met to-
day might have banished the dread
reaper who in his relentless search,
has caused some vacant places at
their own fireside.
What then must we do to control
these things? More attention to SAN
itation, to hygiene, looking up and
removing from our schools diseased
children, many of whom either sloc Id
not be sent to school, or that special
schools be established where they
could be instructed. A child with
tuberculosis should not attend The
same school with one who IS healthy;
but again it is not right to deprive
that child from receiving some edu-
cation; rooms or buildings should be
provided where light mental training
is given in connection with calestn.n-
les, and greater amount of time in
the open air. The good book tells us
"of what does it profit a man to gain
the whole world and lose his own
soul. Apropos of this what does it
profit scholar to be we'll developed
mentally and physical wreck?
think it is beginning to dawn upon the
community that the very environ
ments and methods of our present
school system are to certain extent
responsible for many physical defects.
but also a lack of physical develop