The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-03-18

0ecdQe.
'Th,. state provides for the educa- |
ton of all citizens as a measure of
The facts given show
that the state must also take cogni-
zance of their physical welfare for
the same reason. Health and educa-
ton belong hand in hand. This means
that the existing educational agencies
must ally with themselves expert
medical officers who shall see that the
health of the children is conserved
through the schools. This cannot be
an incidental activity of some depart
ment, but must outrank all others IN
Importance.
Medical inspection; then aims at both
the protection of the community and
furnishing the physical conditions I'M
der which wholesome life can deve-
;op. It involves in this compreilan
sive aim the function of both the de-
partments of health ana If educa-
ton.
In this day, it is reckonCd great
er honor to prevent than tc cure dis
ease. The physician who can prevent
disease and deformity ranks highest
in his profession. Educators in the
past have given but scanty and fleet
ing attention to the problem OF the
physical well being of their charges.
All too often this complacent and
carefree attitude of mind has been
sharede by the parent. All children,
in their mands had to have the COM
mon childrens diseases. If Johnny
breathes through his mouth, he al
ways did that We viii outgroW it.
The child's cough is only slight cold.
He always turns his head to- one side
when he writes or reads. It's habit
he has gotten into. He has always
been pale but it is nothing unusual.
These are all light ways of putting
aside conditions that to the develop
ing child are exceedingly serious In
cases of epidemic, it has always been
recognized that parents have the right
to insist that the schools shall be safe
places to send their children. 1t has
long been recognized that the public
schools serve as a center of exchange
for contagious diseases which pass
pupil to pupil, and yet little has
been done to prevent the spread of
contagion.
again, except in extreme cases, the
school has taken little note of such
defects in the mind Jand body as
might vitality affect the chances of
success and happiness of the child,
unless such defects were of the alarm
ing nature of contagious diseases.
THE lock step has been the rule
in physical matters, as in the realm
of the course of study. All the chill
dren have been on an equality and
have been treated equally. no matter
what their mental developments or
physical condition. The quick and
the slow, the sound and the sick, have
been grouped together; and he who
could not keep his place in his studies
has been as unjuestioningly left be-
hind as he who through illness could
not retain his place in school,.
THAT such a course was poor
| business policy, based on false as
sumption of universal mental and
physical equality which does not ex-
| list, has been pointed out times with
out numberAs in all movements, the
! leaders have been far in advance of
| the rank and file; and in our own, as
| in other countries, the great ajori-
| ties Of the people have been too mu~'
| engaged in their special interest to
| give heed to the great problems in
! vOlved in the work of improving the
educational and physical we'll being
| of the young of the race.
''The school year has heightened
| lIOlll lllIcc lHO1tlS " ~ IilOullS uuI
| ing the year We have passed COM
| pulsory education laws. Going to
school has become, not only the nor
mai, but the required occupation of
all children for number of years.
| The results of these changed condi-
ions on the health of the children
| have become so marked as to insist
| emily demand attention. The par
| ents, the school authorities, and health
| authorities have been unable to avoid
| recognizing the fact that the school
] has become the most certain center Of
| Infection in the community. From
| these conditions grow up medical in
| spection. Wherever established, the
| good results of medical inspection have
been evident. Epidemics have been
checked or avoided. improvements
have been noted in the cleanliness and