The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-06-22
COMPULSION IN SCHOOL AFFAIRS
FRAuCHT WITH GREAT DANGER.
(BY PAULA. JARsCH, SEC. N. L. for NJ. F.
To Boards of Education and Other
School Officials:

School Officials:
No subject is dearer to the hearts of
the twentieth century educator than
the welfare of the children under his
supervision, nor is there one which has
been given more careful or earnest
consideration by boards of education
throughout the nation than this.
In desire to safeguard the health
of the rising generation, many expe-
dients have been devised and many sug-
gestions executed Some of these have
been good, others worthless, and again
there have been those that were frank
ly bad.
Matters sanitary and hygienic have
been vastly improved and none will
deny that great strides have been tax
en- in these directions. The question,
however, now seems to be how much
farther can we go before positive good
will give place to certain evil and be-
fore the good effects OF pure air, whole
some and sanitary surroundings give
place to the bad effects of constantly
painting disease pictures on the sensi-
tive minds of the children by the ex-
amining physician whom it is proposed
to make part of the staff of every
school in the land.
The purpose of this letter is neither
to find fault with nor criticise any plan
now in force, or contemplated by your
board, but rather to point out our be-
lief that the growing tendency towards
compulsory examination of all school
children may be unsound and lead to
most undesirable results.
In support of our contention we beg
to submit the following reasons:
First-Compulsion is adangerous and
undemocratic thing and has been op-
posed by liberty-loving American citi-
liens since the days of the Boston tea
party. 1t savors of a spirit once exist
ent in Italy and Spain, but which we
have long supposed extinct, though it
is still advocated by such eminent men
as DR.. Samuel G. Dixon of,Pennsylvan-
ia, who, in a contribution to the Journ-
al Of the American Association, said:
"Compulsion, not persuasion, is the
keynote of stale medicine.
These laws must reach into all the re-
lations of l;fer
Second-The solution of the problem
of the health of the individual student
we believe to be largely a problem of
economics, rather than of medicine and
surgery. Unless his homo surround
ings arc corrected, can We hope for any
permanent improvement in his condi-
ton 10y reason of repeated physical eX-
aminations and medical advice. and is
it wise or beneficial to fiji his mind
with dread and alarm, when what he
most needs is encouragement and
cheer?
Third-Are not the functions of the
generally efficient and well qualified
sanitary officials of every community
such as to fully and adequately cover
every condition which it is proper
wise or desirable to regulate? Is it
not more necessary and far more i'm
portant to clean up our municipalities,
remove the disease-inducing causes and
enforce the present statutes than to add
fresh laws that would in no sense strike
at the root of the evil, but would inev-
itably add to the burden of frequently
overtaxed communities?
Fourth - But one side of this question
has thus far had fair consideration.
Information on the subject has been
largely, if not entirely, gained from
those who, 10y training and experience,
are firmly convinced that proph ylactic
and therapeutic medicine is the only
method by which temporary or per-
manent relief from physical ills can be
obtained. Would it not be wise, be-
fore any radical step is taken, to care
fully consider the other sides of the
question and in the light of these in
vestigations determine whether some
other method less Objectionable and far
more etiicacious may not be more wise
ly adopted?
We respectfully urge upon your hon
orable body consideration of the fore
going reasons, and if they create in
your minds even small doubt as to
the wisdom of carrying out the plans
of the advocates of compulsory exam
nations of school children, we feel
sure complete investigation will re-
suit, and this in turn can produce but
one conclusion.