Atlanta Georgian., 1912-06-29
SCHOOL SICKNESS
MENACE -SLATON
Records Show 1922 Per Cent of
White and TIT of Negro
Pupils Defective.

Grave danger menaces the health
Of all Atlanta unless the council pro.
vides an adequate appropriation for the
medical examination and treatment Of
pupils in the public schools
This statement from Superintendent
Slaton Of the city schools. today fol-
lowed upon the startling report of Med
ical Supervisor stephens that 1922 per
I cent of the white students in Atlanta
are defective and that III of the negro
| pupils are afflicted similarly.
Superintendent Slaton declared that
if no further appropriations are made
for the examination and aid of the ne
groes in the Atlanta public schools, It
viii be little less than an outrage.
Council has. neglected to take action in
the matter since the examinations had
to be abandoned last April
Situation Called Grave.
Some members of the board Of edu-
cation were outspoken in the state
ment that the percentage of detectives
in the schools is so high that it Is a
grave proposition If the board of health
doesn't take radical cognizance of the
situation. They declare that there are
few cities in the country where medical
school inspection is in vogue where
the percentage Of detectives especially
among the NEGROES. is higher than here
The superintendents annual report
urges immediate action by the. board
and appropriations by council to aid
the doctors and nurses already engaged
in examinations and treatment in the
citys effort to remedy this situation.
In effect, the report of the superin
| tendent shows that enlarged glands, de
fective teeth, nasal and tonsil trouble
were the chief ailments of the afflicted
pupils. Peducols skin diseases. heart
and lung trouble also are prevalent and
a distressingly large number of chill
dren suffer from malnutrition Skin
diseases, glandular trouble and tom
slitis as well as some eye diseases are
all infectious
48.2 Per Cent Treated.
Five thousand four hundred thirty
seven white children were recommended
for treatment in the past year, while
1872 pr cent received treatment. Treat
ment of colored children was discon-
tinued during the year owing to lack
of funds.
The report shows that glasses were
fitted to l20 children during the year;
! that 12o more underwent operations
upon their tonsils, and that 1875 were
treated for adenoids.
The superintendent says that the
method Of reaching the defective chill
dren with remedies constituted one Of
the most satisfactory results of his
admins tration Wherever examination
showed the necessity of treatment the
parents were notified and they either
furnished the medical attention them
selves or nurses and doctors from the
board of education we're sent to the lit
tie ones aid.
Free Treatment For Tuberculosis.
The board announced one of the most
| important moves of the years work
in the adoption of Superintendent Sla
tons recommendation of the appoint
ment of a teacher to the Battle Hill
sanitarium for tubercular patients
| Through this action pupils excluded
from the city schools on account of tu-
| bercular trouble viii receive free in
struction at the sanitarium. Similar
action Is to he taken in aid Of the deaf
and dumb children Of the city.
The board instructed Superintendent
! Slaton to assume supervision over the
| Neighborhood Unions negro classes
that are to be held hereafter in three
of the negro schools on Tuesday. Wed
nesdav and Friday afternoons
The board elected A c. Whitehead. ef
lithonia to the faculty of the BOYS
| High school and accepted tho resigna
tions of Misses Atelee Redus and Agnes
J Summer and w Farmer
Examinations for positions as teach
ers and superintendents will be held
August Is and l6