Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-12-14

The parents of foreign-born children
he said seem anxious to get their
boys and girls to work at as early an
age as possible. Since September be-
tween $50 and us had been excused
from attending school to go to work
upon the solicitation of their par
J ents, poverty being the principal
reason. In all such cases the teach
ers investigate the cases first and the
truant officer makes a second inves-
tigation.
From two to three per cent. Of the
children were reported backward.
Mr.. Shull believes that the state
should provide some means to in
struct this class, but does not see
how Perth Amboy a make any
special provision. A class is main
tanned, he said, for badly behaved
boys, in which there has been as
many as thirty-seven at one time.
The school population is $500, he
said, of which 1890 to 1900 are in
regular attendance. How many chill
dren there are out of school that
should be in school he did not know.
A census of possible school children
should be taken, he said, but there
seems to be no one to do the work.
A uniform course of study
throughout the state is not needed in
Superintendent Shull's mind. Pecu-
liarities in every locality, he said, re-
quires special courses. He recon-
mended a minimum uniformity in
the following studies, however:
Reading, writing, arithmetic, geog-
raphy, history and spelling. Mr..
ShulI believes in school examina-
tons. The system employed in
Perth Amboy in promoting is the
totaling of two-thirds of the teachers
daily markings to one-third of the
examination average. Backward chill
dren were not kept in one class long
er than two years.
Better Medical Examinations.
In regard to the medical examina-
ton of children Superintendent
Shull said that the state law did not
go far enough. Physical defects re-
ported to parents of Perth Amboy
children among a certain class re-
suited in nothing. This was due to
either the fact that the parents were
too DOOR or did not realize the seri-
of their children's condition.
Mr.. Shull thought that the law
should provide for medical attention
as well as examination when the par
ents do not see that their children's
defects are remedied. He recon-
mended a free clinic to look after
the physical welfare of school chill
dren when the parent would take no
action. The physicians, when ap-
preached, say that such a clinic
would take too much of their time.
The city hospital, he added, offers no
relief in this instance.
Many Pupils Have Adenoids.
superintendent Shull read from
the medical report to be submitted
the teachers institute at New
Brunswick. Among 5,031 scholars
examined S55 were found to be suf-
fering with adenoids, a growth in the
face which retards mental develop
ment. The medical committee was
wrestling with the problem and had
found of this number that from 100
to 125 could not get medical atten-
ton because of the cost of the oper-
alton. He said that it vas proposed
to raise money by public subscription
to have these children attended to.
An operation costs about IS and
necessitates the child being out of
school for about a week. OF those
examined 3,099 had teeth that need
ed attention, 341 had eye troubles,
26 heart trouble, and At had been
sent home for bodily unc1eanliness
and other similar reasons.