The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1911-10-25
ALL SCHOOL CHILDREN
SHOULD BE EXAMINED

Massachusetts had medical inspection
, Looking at the report of the Commits
sioner of Education for 1910 Q911 re-
port by Mr.. Claxton, is not yet OUT
cities outside of the states having med
ical inspection laws, that require med
ical inspection in their schools.
growth of almost 100 per cent in two
years. During the last two years Col
orado, Utah, Maine, Washington, and
Ohio have added laws governing san
itation and medical inspection to their
statute books
1t looked good also to find, in that
voluminous report, idaho, our own
fair state, listed in the forward step.
For possibly some of you do not know
that now, here in idaho, the county
physician must inspect the school
houses of the county once each year.
This law was passed at the last session
of the Legislature and we hope that
the next legislature will add medical
inspection of school children-some
such law as they nave in Germany
or England, to our statutes.
Mr.. Brown, in his report, also adds:
"The year 1910 has centered upon such
special activities as the open air
schools of Boston, New York and Chi
cago, and the steady advance of medi-
cal inspection.
Generally speaking, moral training,
industrial education and education for
health are paramount concerns in the
forward movement of the present time.
The nature and aims of medical in
spection vary in different countries but
all unite in the ultimate end-to dis
cover as early as possible anything
abnormal about the child and correct
it if possible. If not, at least to keep
the malady from growing any worse.
Also for contagious disease.
Medical inspection then is not only
for the detection of contagious dis
ease but also for discovering those
physical defects which interfere with
the child's ability to do his school
work, or which, if neglected, will SER
iously affect his physical efficiency in
after life. Communities are seeing
the whole matter in new light. |
Gradually they are beginning to ask,
not whether they can afford to take |
steps to safeguard in the schools, the |
welfare of their children, but whether
they can afford not to take such steps. |
Teachers and parents are beginning
to realize that the problem of the
pupil with defective eyesight or hear
ing may be quite as important to the
as the pupil with contag-
ious disease.
The child placed in a school where
physical defects are unrecognized and
lisregarded is unable to see distinctly,
md headache, eyestrain, and failure to
follow his efforts at study. Neither he
lor his teacher knows what is the
natter, but he soon finds it impossi-
de to keep pace with his companions.
We who are teachers have all had
of this kind and have
onged for the good school physician to
inspect the tired eyes and direct the
'upil in the way to better sight.
Public schools are public trusts. We
ave no right to enforce compulsory |
tendance laws unless we return the
hid to the parent and the state at
he end of his school life better physi-
ally as well as mentally, than when
re- took him.
We do not wish to be outdone by :
)reign countries nor by eastern
5ates and cities, nor will we be.
The most definite report available
lowing per cent of defects is that of
lie city superintendent of Cleveland
hio, for 1907. In this city the de-
of physical training conduct
an examination of 10000 children,
grades three to seven, with respect
condition of eyes, ears, nose and III
eth About so per cent, or $4,000 II
lildren, were found to be suffering III
ON physical defects more or less
rious. III
Strenuous endeavors were made for III
e removal or alienation of the de-
cts discovered By the cooperation
principals, teachers, dispensaries,
lysicians and parents, correction of II
G defects were made in 1888 cases,
22.5 per cent.
Just think of the good done in one Y
Ly alone, 1888 defective children