Evening journal., 1913-08-08
FRIDAY. AUG. 8. 1913.

HYGIENE CONFERENCE AND ITS IMPORTANCE.
DR IRA s. VILE a prominent member Of the New
- York City Board Of Education has written for
the School Board journal timely article on why
boards Of education should send delegates to the Inter
national Congress- Of School Hygiene to be held In
Buffalo the last week in this month What he says
is well worthy Of consideration by Wimingtonana and
particularly by members OF our local Board Of Educa-
lion.
DR. VINE says that under any plan Of compulsory
rducatons boards Of education become trustees of the
public for the physical welfare OF children OF school
age during the period OF school life and the time at
last has arrived when careful atentouia given to the
physical needs of the subjects of education He quite
properly calls attention to the fact that the physical
health Of children no longer is negligible quantity in
The discussions Of boards of education. There is
persisent and an insistcn demand for hygienic con
ditions Il is pointed out that from investigations with
reference TO the physical limitations of abnormal
children we have come 20 an understanding OF the
immense value and importance of the physical welfare
Of school children a prerequisite to an economic
administration Of funds for educational results.
II is asserted by DR. VILE that have not appre-
ciaied sufficiently the deterioration of school children
such as has given risa alarm, fear and inyestiga-
non In France England Germany and other coun-
tries that now arc wide awake 20 the necessity OF
conserving the health Of potential citizens
'The duty as well as the responsibility rests upon
boards OF education send special representatives az
public expense 10 become acquainted with the number
and the magnitude Of the defects in existing schemes
for protecting the health of school children with
view 10 ascertaining the answers 10 their own per
plex,ne problems" DR. VILE continues THE future
bf the American school children may be made richer
betier aud more heahful through a recognition OF the
economic Importance and pedagogical value OF such
,enresentaiion of school boards at the international
Congress ON school Hygiene lnasmuch as the pro
hien,s relating 10 the hygiene school children are
closely allied with the social welfare of communities
4, q, hut uroper that the communities whole should
be represented at this meeting The cost OF sehains
REPRESENTATIVES at public expense is small ia com
harrison with the possible and probable result o su'n
eSnenditure Not alone should members OF the super
,,sorv educational force be delegates 10 attend this
conference but the school Commissioners themselves
should have a representative present ehei 10 p'i'0P
ate in or listen TO the proceedings
In view Of such convincing argument from one of the
men I'm charge Of the greatest educational system %
the United states the question naturally presents iael
whether II would not we'll worth while for the ct
tof wilmington 10 have at least one delegate at ma
National Congress Wilmington parents have a natura
Interest In the health of their children IT, by sendin
delegate. anything might be learned looking TO th
conservation of child life and the increased ehcenc
of the educational system IN our city u may be state
as fact that no substantial number OF taxpayers Wou'
object 10 the comparatively small amount OF none
that would be required TO give proper represeh'alo
An what is conceded 10 be one of the most mporai
iof educational congresses IN this country
n such a delegate be named by The Board Of Eduo
,,,on he should be a man who will return with nform
,ion for practical use and not who will look upc
his mission as a Summer outing In order words, ,
should give 10 our city a proper return for The hon'
conferred and the money spent