The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-01-20
SOCIAL SCIENCE CLUB COMMIT
TEE IN MEMORIAL.

Risk of Spreading Disease Wherever
People Congregate; Many Chill
dren Suffering From Physical
Defects; Director George Scherer
Opposes Plan; Superintendent
Sperry Makes Suggestion.
From Thursdays Daily.
The board OF education last night
considered the matter of having "a
medical inspection of the pupils in
the public schools, for the purpose
Of the timely detection of ailments
that any of them may be SO unfor-
tunate as to possess. The matter
was brought to the attention of the
board by committee from the So,
cial Science club, which appeared
and presented memorial from the
club. DR.. j. A. Hancock, chairman
of the committee, presented the
matter, saying that the club had
taken considerable interest in the
matter of medical inspection in the
| schools. He read the following
communication from the club to the
board:
Letter From Committee.
"To the Board of Education, Man
kato, Mimi, Gentlemen: The mem
bers of the Social Science club of
consideration the need of medical
inspection in all of the schools of
the city.
| THE interest in the conservation
of life and health has won de-
served recognition. Wherever people
congregate there is risk to be run
in regard to the spread of disease.
| 1t is common knowledge that many
diseases are spread in all commune
ties through the schools. We are
of the opinion that medical inspcc-
! ton will abundantly pay for itself
by the saving which it will accom-
plish.
/ THE community will receive bene-
! fit from the medical inspection of
the schools in yet another way
/ There are many children suffering
! from defect of the eye, ear, nose,
| throat and teeth. These defects in
! terfere with their ability to do sue
cessful work, and account for very
many of the cases of retardation.
| 1t is important to know the extent
of these defects, since it is quite
possible for them to be remedied.
| Experience elsewhere has abundantly
shown that greater progress is made
when they are rcmedied. The re-
! tardation which these defects cause
means the added cost of instructing
and giving personal help to these
children for one or more years.
The fact that the proportion OF
| children wearing glasses Increases
! from the lowest grades to the uni
versity raises the question of the
| propriety of an education being
made TO cost IL child in terms of
eyesiGht. Medical inspection will
point out hygienic treatment of the
/ children in the school room aud will
detect injurious tendencies promptly
and Indicate their treatment.
ITO enforce compulsory attendance
and TO safeguard the development of
mind and body we deem of great
consequence. The two cannot be
logically separated.
Eve express the hope and wish
that this problem will receive early
and prompt attention and treatment
at your hands.
Very respectfully, J. A. Han
cock, G. M. Palmer, DR.. C. j. Holman,
committee"
Minneapolis Has inspection.
DIR. Holman addressed the board
and spoke of the efforts Of the Min
neapOliS board of education to have
medical inspection in the schools, of
its trouble to get u decision whether
it had a right TO do SO, and how it
had finally won, and how all of the
people are satisfied now, in spite of
previous opposition by different cults.
The inspection of the children is
very simple work, and a great deal
| of good results to the children. In
spection of the throat is most inn
pOrtant A physician, trained nurse
or teacher could conduct the inspec-
ton, and there ought not to be much
expense attached. 1t is not abso-
lutely necessary that a physician
make the inspection. Minneapolis
started in with trained nurse, but
doctors do it now. The teacher could
know whether a child was not well
and ask for an inspection, and the
parents ought not to object.
President Holbrook thought that
the teachers could be instructed SO
that they would be able to inspect
the throats of the children. He did
not think it practicable to carry out
complete inspection.
Mrs. Smith thought that such an
inspection as was proposed was
needed.
Superintendent Sperry thought that
-