The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-02-24
Board of Education Last
Night Decides to Provide
for Medical Inspection of
All Pupils.
TRI-WEEKLY TESTS
BY THE INSPECTORS
Protest on Action of Board
Expected from Christian
Scientists-Bramkamp and
King Chosen.

AASuiAOA AASPCNSIOA Al UC luSllNulCu
in all the local public schools except
the high school, as a result of a de-
cision reached by the school board at
a special meeting last night. The in
spections will be conducted triweekly
by Drs. J. E. King and A. l.. Bran.
kamp. the two examiners. and are to
be started at once.
According to the school board men,
ters, the ruling made by them yester-
day evening was merely an inevitable
step, brought about by the general pro-
gress in education. and is the climax
of agitation started last summer. Pub
lie opinion. as a whole. strongly favors
the inspection, but Christian Scien-
fists and Homeopathists may give op-
position if their children are forced to
submit to the ruling of the school
board.
To BE Two Districts.
The city will be divided for the in
spectors into two sections. All
schools east of Ninth street are to be
under the jurisdiction of one inspec-
tor, while the other will have those
west of that street. The high school
has been excepted because inspection
is already in effect there under the
physical training department. DR..
King and DIR. Bramkamp have not yet
been assigned to a district, but each
will have between 1900 and 400
scholars under his direction.
According to the boards plans, the
power of the inspectors will not be
limited to treatment Of contagious dis
eases.
As soon as convenient, tho two in
spectors will make = complete physi-
cal test Of every pupil in the schools.
This examination. which requires
about twelve minutes Qer pRpll. with
include particularly tests of the eyes
and throat. sN1 !.
After the first examination, the ply
times a week to look after all pupils
either sick, or thought to be SO. Tho
complete test will be repeated every
year. An important Limitation on the
powers of the inspectors, is that they
are allowed only to send advisory re-
ports to parents, and can not pre-
scribe. In this way, family physicians
do not lose patronage through the in
spection, and parents do not have to
be burdened with doctors bills against
their will. The inspectors will look
for any abnormal conditions in chill
dren.
Mott Much Pleased.
Superintendent r. A. Mott this morn
ing stated that the present ruling Of
the school authorities was one of the
best steps taken by them in recent
years. He points out the fact that an
incredible number of pupils are un-
necessarily handicapped both in
growth and study by defective sight.
adenoids, and other physical Ills which
escape the attention of the teacher,
but will be noticed by an examining
that the careful inspection by expert
enced men will save many children
from suffering and failure In their
studies.
In outlining the history of the pre-
sent movement, DR.. Johnston, speak
ing for the school board, asserts that
last summer the board contemplated
action of this sort, after reviewing the
marked success which medical fnspec-
ton has met in the schools OF CONT
mental Europe, and for twenty years in
the eastern part Of the United States.
Feeling that the demand Of the peo-
pie and of progress made the ruling in
evitable, the board finally ordered in
spection.
Much agitation was caused today by
the announcement Of the decision, in
Christian science circles. Some Scien-
fists assert that they will not submit
to having their children examined by
physicians. ... L..