The independent-reporter., 1910-03-17
EDUCATIONAL ADDRESSES.
fcontinued from Page one.)

school committees, why towns ana
municipalities, should unite their Ell
| forts toward q common END, namely,
to emphasize the Importance oil pro-
noting the physical welfare or our
school children in order that every
child may stand an equal chance with
every other child
| The speaker then traced the growth
of the movement fer proper medical
/ inspection of schools in Massachu-
sets, noting the difficulties In the
way of the adoption of proper legis-
ation on the subject. He then
brought his thought nearer home and
+ traced the early beginning OF the
movement here In Maine. After quot
] ing the law on the subject, Dr. Hill
said:
THE argument advanced that the
need of medical supervision is not
! imperative Is no longer accepted. Re-
ports of the poor physical condition
of school children come from all ov-
er the civilized world-from crowd
ed cities. and from widely separated
towns. So similar are the reports
that they are most convincing. They
are defective vision, impaired hear
enlarged glands representing ma
lures efforts to ward off some in
lection from more vital parts, en-
larged tonsils and adenoids obstruct-
ing the necessary flow of oxygen to
the lungs.
ITO remedy the defects when they
already exist and to prevent their
development in others, the co-opera-
ton of parents, teachers, nurses and
physicians is essential. There Is
positively no other way. But before
this can be done there is an import
ant step to be taken: Parents and
teachers must be informed regarding
these subjects, and there is no more
effective way than through the school
physician and the school nurse
Dr. Hill next mentioned in parti-
cular visual defects to be found
among school children
These visual defects exist among
the school children of Skowhegan
and they contribute to the backward
ness not only of those affected but
to the classes of which they are
members. No teacher can devote
time to arousing the interest of
backward pupils without taking time
from pupils who are forging for
ward"
AS to methods, DR.. Hill mentioned
several necessary steps. First, the
appointment of the Medical Inspec-
tor. He said:
THE law permits such appoint
ments and municipalities should be
aroused to take full advantage of the
law. But the appointment of the
Medical Inspector is not sufficient In
order to bring about the greatest de-
gree of efficiency in the detection of
school diseases and in order to car
ry on the work of the office OF the
Medical Inspector with the least pos
sible expense to the municipality, the
appointment of school nurse comes
to be the second important step in
carrying forward this work. But un-
til this ideal method can be adopted,
we might employ the services of
some competent young woman of
good ability and education who, un-
der the direction of the Medical In
spector, shall be required to visit the
various schools and, without inter-
rupting the classroom work, ex-
anime individually, and apart by
themselves, lue SCHOOi cniiuiO Gil
In concluding his address DR.. Hill
said
You have your problems here in
Skowhegan similar to those in all
other large towns and cities. You
have the backward pupil: and yonr
teachers, striving to do their full
duty by the town which employs
them. are kept wholly in the dark as
to the causes which contribute TO
that pupils backwardness and the
remedies which his case demands
But this meeting here this evening
Is sufficient evidence to me that
your superintendent, your school
committee, your teachers, and repre-
sentative citizens of your town are
alive to the pressing needs OF the
day and are interested. and deeply
SO. in those fundamental questions
that, when solved, work most salu-
tary benefit upon human kind.
1.-The next step in your progressive
endeavors Is to enlist the fnencial
support of your municipal authori-
ties. and the only way to do this Is
to make perfectly clear to them the
prime Importance of this campaign in
which you have voluntarily and en-
Enthusiastically engaged. The citizens
of town of this size and standing
In the State are deeply interested in
all those matters which affect, in
any sense vitally, the welfare OF
their children, and an appeal to
their generosity will bring the ne
caeoary raapopaa"