Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1909-12-03
Friday, December 3. 1909
MEDICAL INSPECTION IN SCHOOLS.


M EplCAL inspection in schools has passed
= The experimental stage, and has come
TO stay; and wherever it has been made in
tcgra part of the system, it has produced such
bcnehccnt results, that it meets the hearty APP
prova OF the public, because it prevents the
spread of disease, and in matters of hygiene,
cleanliness and the correction of abnormalities in
manv children, II becomes an economic measure
which should interest our citizens and tax
payers
Medical inspection has been made or is be-
ing made part OF the public school system of
all the leading progressive cities and smaller
cities of the country, and the Board of Educa-
ton in this city has taken a step in the right
direction, which must meet the approval of all
who are interested in the welfare of our chill
drcn
In connection with this it is but proper to
say that the teachers, principals and the super
intendent of our schools have for several years.
given much attention 20 defective and backward
children in order to discover causes of back
wardness and retardation. Hundreds of cases
OF defective sight, defective hearing adenoids
low nutrition, chorea, and even epilepsy, and
other troubles have been discovered, and by
consultation with parents and suggestions to
them pupils have been treated and materially
benefited
On this point the suggestions of DR. y. o.
Cooper, at a late meeting Of the Board are very
timely and their hearty approval of all the
members may be taken an indication that our
schools arc to keep in the front of all progress
sive movements, and that they are TO have all the
benefits coming from an enlightened public SEN
timent and thoughtful administration.
Or. Twtmyer in his annual report last year
10 the Board of Education, says in part con-
corning medical Inspections
During the year 6,74s pupils lost So,337 days
On account of sickness, and o,IoS days were lost
bv other children on account OF some contagious
disease in the family. and total of 81 days
were lost By the fumigation Of schools in which
there were one or more cases of contagious dis
eases. For purely economic reasons medical in
speotion should at once become part Of the
public school system Of this city.
"rhen again it often happens, as has been
shown frequently in our schools that pupils
often suffer serious disadvantages by reason Of
detective eve sight, deficient hearing, deformity
OF the spine mal-nutrition or nervous debility
not easily recognized by the teacher unframed in
physical diagnosis Aggravated forms and adj
vanced stages of these diseases are recognized
BY our teachers, but the mild forms and early
stages are not so easily recognized, and it would
be unreasonable to expect them TO detect illness
and deformites requiring special skill on the
part of a physician Medical inspection could
easily give teachers better conception of the
meaning Of health and disease and their signih-
canoe in the education of the child. The teacher
and the physician should be co-workers giving
each other aid in becoming acquainted with all
the facts and conditions of the school, thus en-
abling both to render better service to the chill
drcn.'