The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-06-17
SATURDAY, JUNE II, 1911.
LOOKING AFTER PUPILS.

The educators or the state are great
~ pleased with the law enacted at the
last legislative session providing for
medical inspection of the schools
A pamphlet called Medical Inspection
Legislation has been compiled by Leon
ard p. Ayres, Phi. D., of the depart
ment Of child hygiene OF the Russell
Sage Foundation. DIR. Ayres gives a
little Introductory explanation as fol-
lows:
The first state law providing for the
medical inspection of school children APP
pears to have been passed by Connecti-
cut in 1899. 1t did not provide for the
complete sort of inspection now car
ried on in many cities and states. but
only for the testing OF eyesight by
teachers every three years. Complete
medical inspection with examinations
for the detection of physical defects
was first provided for by state enact
ment in the permissive law Of New
Jersey passed in 1903. This was fol-
lowed by the mandatory law of Mas
sachusetts in 1906, which has been sew
eral times amended, and which has
served as the basis for a majority OF
the bills which have since been pre-
sented in other state legislatures.
At the present time six states have
mandatory laws, ten have permissive
ones, and in two states and the Dis
trict OF Columbia medical inspection is
carried on under regulations promul-
gated by the boards Of health and hav-
ing the force of law. The fact that the
Massachusetts, statute is the oldest of
the laws now in force shows that the
whole body of legislative enactments
which crystalline the views, beliefs and
results Of experience of educators and
physicians, is of distinctly recent
origin.
Nevertheless. the past Ave years have
furnished a large body of experience
under varying conditions and in widely
separated localities, and the lessons of
this experience can be read in the sub
stantial agreement of a majority of
the laws in several salient features.
On four points there is substantial
agreement. The first is that the ad-
ministration of the provisions of the
laws Is placed in the hands of the
school authorities. The second. third
and fourth are respectively placing in
the hands Of school physicians the in
spection for contagious diseases, the
physical examinations, and the inspec-
ton OF teachers, Janitors and buildings. |
In six cases provision is made for test |
ing Of vision and hearing by the teach |
ers.
The North Dakota enactment is as
follows
The board of any school corporation
may employ one or more physicians as /
medical inspector of schools. II shall /
be the duty of the medical inspector
to examine, at least once annually. all |
children enrolled in the public schools
OF the district, except those who pre-
sent a certificate of health from 3. IL
censed physician, and to make out
suitable records for each child, one
copy OF which shall be fled with the
county or city superintendent of
schools. Notice of physical defects of
abnormal or diseased children shall be
sent to the parents, with recommended
tons for the parents guidance in con-
serving the child's health The medical
inspector shall cooperate with state.
county and township boards of health
In dealing with contagious and infec-
uous diseases and to secure medical
treatment for INDECENT children. 1t
shall be the duty of the county and city
superintendents of schools to cooper
ate with school boards in promoting
medical inspection. He may arrange
schools by groups, especially in the
rural districts, for purposes of inspec-
ton, and shall advise school boards
with view to securing the most eff
cient and economical administrations
OF this law. The school board or board
OF education shall furnish all blanks
and other needed supplies for this pur-
pose.