The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-11-10
DAY AT THE WoMAN's
CLUB

ever held was given in the club
rooms. The subject for the afternoon
! was Medical Examination of Public
School Children" and this important
subject was discussed from every
phase.
Before the program for the after
noon a brief business meeting was
held. The minutes of the executive
meeting Friday were read by the
new club secretary, Mrs. Stovall
1t was voted that next year an mi
tiation fee of 81 be charged the new
members, and it was decided to hold
a public hygiene day later on. The
treasurer's report was read and the
showing made by the club was a good
one.
Mrs. r. A. Burford, chairman of the
educational committee, under whom
Saturdays program was held, then
took charge of the meeting and gave
short sketch of the plans of her
committee for the year. They will
leave no stone unturned for better
equipped schools, better ventilated
schools, physical instruction in per-
sonal hygiene in the schools, fully
equipped Fairgrounds, and everything
that makes for the betterment of our
school conditions. The committee is
also going to make an effort to have
more Florida history taught in the
school, and next May hope to have a
school children's pageant of Florida
history, beginning with. the founding
of ST. Augustine up to the present
day.
Miss Nellie Stevens, principal of
the primary school, then made most
excellent talk on the necessity and
value of medical examination of the
school children, and her remarks,
plans and suggestions were fnvalua-
ble She spoke particularly of the
primary school being the beginning
of the child's preparation for citizen
ship and stressed particularly The
need of the development of the social
side of child's nature, and the de-
velopment of community feeling in
the child. She said that child must
be well before he can be good md
happy, and that his physical condition
very often accounts for great deal
of the dullness and seeming stupidity
of the child Miss Stevens was fol-
lowed by DR.. Van Hood, a representa-
tive of the board of health, who said
that he and the other physicians OF
this city are glad indeed to cooperate
in this matter, and will gladly give
their services whenever possible TO
the free examination of the school
children. That in many states this
is now compulsory, and that the good
results derived have been numberless.
That it has been found that school
children have often been whipped for
laziness when they were really SUI
fering from hookworm; that ldefect-
i've eyesight and hearing were also
largely responsible for good deal OF
inattentiveness and dullness of the
pupils. DR.. Hood was followed by
DR.. w. K. Lane, Ocala's new ear, eye'
nose and throat specialist, who spoke
along similar lines, giving number
of other helpful hints and sugges-
tions.
Rev. ]. B. Ley then made very
splendid address on the subject OF
schools VS.. jails. His talk was brief,
but was terse and to the point and he
was listened to with great interest.
He said that Marion county has only
sC2 coo in school buildings and $117,-
600 in her court house and jail. That
from actual figures it is much cheap
or 70 make men and women and take
care of them than it is to maintain
criminals. That as the twig is bent
so will the tree grow, so that If a
child is started in life right in his
nome lie duQ SCuOOi A1AOs ~AAS AAAAA
Der of criminals will be lessened.
Miss Margaret Taylor followed Mr.
Ley, her talk being particularly en-
the need of fire protection in our
school, fire drill, etc. That after there
has been fire it will be too late. and
that attention should be given to this
matter before it is too late.
Mrs. Hooker announced that the
stamp sale will be in charge of Mrs.
Van Hood of the health department
this year and that the proceeds will
be used for fund for public play
grounds, which it is hoped to secure
for Ocala later on.
At the conclusion of the meeting
Mrs. E. NJ. Howard and Mrs. G. T.
Maughs acted as hostesses, and serv-
ed hot tea and sandwiches. They
were assisted by Mrs. Stoval and
Mrs. Perdue. The former sat at the
table and poured the tea.