The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-18
Bill for Physical Examination
of All School Children.
Parents Will Be Warned Even
Against Bad Teeth.
ATTEMPT FOR CONVICT LABOR.
Senator Bowman Would Work
Them on Highways.
OverfieId Wants Municipal
Band Concerts in Kansas.

The most important measure affect
ing public schools in Kansas was in
troduced in the senate Monday after
noon by J. W. Howe, senator from
Dickinson county. This bill required
the school boards of cities of the first
class in Kansas to appoint every year
a physician to be known as health
SUPERVISOR The health supervisor will
see that the school buildings, grounds
and equipment are kept in sanitary
condition and that all children enter
ing the schools, as well as teachers
are examined for diseases both physl-
cal and mental.
The children are to be examined for
physical defeats not only upon enter
ing school but upon complaint or in
formation of the teacher and instruc-
tor
The pupils will be examined not only
upon signs of dangerous and conta-
gious diseases like tuberculosis, small
pox, diphtheria, etc. but defects in
sight and hearing will be watched
Also malnutrition, enlarged tonsils and
decayed teeth. Reports on these trou-
bles will be made to the school auth
critics and to the parents or guardians
of the children.
Another attempt will be made by
the senate to pass a bill giving coun-
ties the right to work convicts on the
public roads and streets. Noah Bow
man, of Anderson COUNTY, offered the
bill this time The last measure was
submitted by Milton of Wyandotte.
The Bowman bill allows the warden
of the penitentiary to send to a coun-
ty a detachment of prisoners for road
building or for work on the streets OF
cities and towns. The county commits
sioners will furnish the expense of
guarding the convicts and will furnish
the materials and the TOOLS An adj
ditional cost of so cents day to each
prisoner to be used by his family or
those dependant upon him is to be
paid by the county commissioners.
The convicts will not be allowed to
do skilled labor. The building of
bridges must be given to regular la
borers. If the prisoners are on good
behavior during the time they are on
the roads they are to be given one
day out of three in good time by the
warden.
Following the example of Topeka and
other cities of the first class that fur
nish free open air band concerts to
their citizens during the summer
months, the cities of the second class
in Kansas are anxious for authority
TO levy a tax to be used as music
fund and applied for entertainment.
Senator Overfield, of Independence, is
author of the bill in the senate. A
lew of one-fourth mill on every 500
of assessed valuation is the amount
to be allowed the second class cities
of the state.
Senator Simpson, of Mcpherson
county, would allow the juvenile courts
of the state to turn over to the par
ents of dependent and neglected chill
dren enough money for their care. |
This would apply to children in the
state under the age of Is years. 1t
would enable children of this charac-
ter to be kept at home and given adj
ditional care.
The state printer is due for more
work. Senator Davis, of Bourbon |
county. has offered a bill to the SEN
ate, calling for a uniform record and |
report system for the schools of the |
state. This new plan is to be worked |
out by a committee of three Compel |
ent educators to be appointed by the |
state board of education. Within a |
year this board is to devise a sys-
tenn of records and reports and the |
state printer will be given the copy"
1t is anticipated that it will save the |
state thousands of dollars annually and
Will place the schools on a more uni
form basis.
Senator Price. of Clark county. has
state authority to go to another county
for the appointment or election of a |
surveyor. The present law insists that
a surveyor must be chosen from the
home county. In many of the smaller
districts no competent engineers can be
found. The Price bill would give the
authorities power to go into another
county for their official.
Senator Bowman, of Anderson
county, has made one more attempt to
open the doors of the banks to the tax
commission and the assessors of the
counties and cities of the state He has
a bill repeating a section of
the statutes of 1909 which exempts
books, papers and records of a bark
from inspection by the tax collectors
Senator Bowman's first speech in this
session of the legislature was directed
against the tax dodger'' who hides his
treasures in the banks. The Anderson
county member will find a strong band I
of enemies in the senate waiting for
his measure.
The bill poster bill is init came al
most too late for this session of the
senate. 1t is fathered by Senator
Stavely, of Usage county, and is an