Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-14
MEDICAL SUPERVISION FOR SCHOOLS
Superintendent and School Board Members Discuss Topic Come Before Town Meeting -Supt. Graham Favors School Nurse-Dr. P. J. Cassidy Answers Criticisms

The question of medical supervision
 TOT the schools, which is one of the
 matters in the warning for the town
 meeting, has been the subject of much
 discussion among the citizens, and
 promises to bring out a large attend
 ance.
 In discussing the matter on Sunday.
 school Superintendent Edward J. Gra-
 nam gave the point of view on the
 matter held in general by educators,
 he said, which Is in favor of a school
 nurse. The school nurse, he said, was favored by educators because they
 claim that experience shows it Is more
 effective and far less expensive than
 the system of medical supervision through 8 corps of doctors, as has been suggested here. As an instance of the
 expense he gave the experience of Meriden, where a school nurse cost
 $1,399 for the year.
 There are several reasons why ev- cry school system should have and perpetuate an effective system of med 1cal inspection, Supt Graham said. However, the question of medical in spection of schools is so far advanced in this country and abroad that we do not need to pioneer the way. The first reason for medical inspection in our schools is concerned with contagious diseases. Children are compelled to at tend school where conditions inevitably exist which are dangerous to the phy- Sical well-being of the public. As a consequence of bringing together chil- dren from all kinds of homes widely different in standards of cleanliness and health. any plan of medical super vision in our schools which would eliminate the spread of communicable diseases would be of inestimabIe value to the community. The authority which compels parent to send his child to school should also provide ac- commodations and conditions so that the parent will at least receive his child back in as good physical condi- tion as when he was sent.
 4 AbSence is one of the most disturb ing factors that interfere with the eff fciency of school work, and the sec ond reason has to do with this. Any system of supervision which would eliminate school absence and the after results of disease would have vital effect upon the quality and quantity of school work
 A third reason for medical supervis- ion is concerned with the discover and care of disease not contagious.
 Inspections of school children made all over the world indicate the variety of physical defects. The best form of medical inspection exists not only for the discovery and detection of contagi- GUS diseases, but also for the dicovery of those physical defects which inter feTe with child's ability to progress as he should in his work Mental eff fCiency increases with physical and health efficiency.
 An efficient system of medical in spection requires, first, an inspection for contagious dsease; second, an an nual physical inspection of each child third some form of follow up" sys- tenn to see that the parents provide proper treatment for their children.
 4or.A f<~ sight and hearing. This test is made by the class room teachers, who could be instructed to select such children as need special attention and refer them to the nurse or medical inspector on their visits to the school. Such cases would include: First, those sus- pected of illness; second, those return ! ing after an absence without a physi- clans permit; third, those returning after having been excluded.
 In this plan for a school nurse four l or five physicians to act as medical in i spectOrs under the direction of the su- Derintendent of schools or the health would have the following 1 duties: First, to call at each school to | examine the cases referred to him by the teachers or the school nurse; sec ! ond, to make one physical examina- l ton each year. It should be stated 1 that the medical inspector would only l diagnose the disease. NO IFedIIHenL would be given. The case would be re- | ported to the parents, who must pro- vide treatment.
 One of the most important factors l in medical inspection is the school l nurse. The duties of school nurse ] are briefly these: First, to aid and in struct the teachers in this new work: | second, to follow up children excluded | on account of communicable diseases, l such as pediculosis, impetigo and scab- l les. etc Pupils excluded because of | these often go home and return to i school without having any treatment, | and only have to be excluded again.
 This has brought about one of the l greatest services which the school 1 nurse is able to render, that is, to visit | the house and by conferring with the