East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-09-22
INSPECTION FOR
SCHOOL CHILDREN
OFFICIAL HAS PLAN TO
CORRECT YOUTHFUL ILLS
From Five 10 IS Per Cent OF Children
are Tuburcular Says Expert-ManS
Futures Dimmed by Lack OF Simple
Care In Childhood.

Do the people of Pendleton want
physical inspection of the school chill
dren OF the city and II such inspec-
ton should be provided how many of
the 1000 pupils In the local schools
would be found defective In some par
ticular? 1t is difficult question to
answer but II the children here are
as elsewhere there are many who
have ailments that could be correct
ed with but little trouble IL taken IN
time.
The Public Health Service has an
expert DIR. Scherechewski who has
paid much attention to school room
conditions and has very elaborate
plan for correcting ills to be found in
the schools. The plan provides for
doctors and nurses and for clinical
work where needed.
We are all agreed that children
are the potential capital OF the state,
and II Is upon the subsequent effici-
ency OF the citizens in embryo that
the future prosperity OF any body
polite depends" declared Surgeon
Schereschewsky Adequate medical
inspection in the schools would great
~ ecrease the number OF public
charges and other dependents now in
our midst
Il would recommend: a careful and
scientific watch over all public school
children, their health and develop
ment mental and physical; preventing
here. preventing there some vice of
conformation. faulty habit and defec-
tive physical state so that the child
arrives upon threshold OF citizenship
with a future unhandicapped by dis
ease. ready at once TO become an eff
cient social unit; sanitary school in
spection; physical health OF teachers
and other school employees; play
grounds in abundance; study OF hy-
giene and fundamental principles of
the prevention of disease in the school
curriculum
"A school physician, applying all his
time: examining all persons connect
ed with the school: supervising school
equipment. bentilation and sanitation
and instructing health and hygiene
classes.
s'iSiN anu are the ANO sens
es II is the most important to safe
guard during childhood. yet It is these
two which We find most commonly
defective among school children. Many
children. not learning properly in
school, are backward because of some
defect OF the eyes or ears, usually Of
a remediable nature. Some 20 per
cent of all school children here suf-
fer from defective vision. while from
8 To per cent have defective hearing
"Malnutrltion. adenoid growths, en-
larged tonsils flatfoot, defective teeth,
worms. vermin, chronic communi-
cable diseases, are all the ills Of
childhood that can be effectively re-
medied II taken in time, but are likely
10 result in permanent defects. many
times at the expense OF the child's fu-
ture. II allowed TO proceed without
medical attention. Spinal curvatures
are often due to vicious postures caus-
ed by improper desks, bad lighting.
undeveloped muscles or other impro-
per conditions of the school room that
could be remedied by an experienced
physician in charge.
From mime to fifteen per cent of
all school children suffer from active
tuberculosis. Intestinal parasites
mental deficiency and nervous affec-
tions are also among the more serious
diseases which should be detected and
treated early.
Twenty states have recognized the
necessity for medical inspection Of
schools and have made some legal
provision for its conduct. but an ade-
Iuate. mandatory administration. has
not yet been adopted in any of them" 8"