The Washington times., 1914-03-21


less medical inspection.
By ]. R. HILDEBRAND.
Here are two examples furnished
by teachers of the way medical in
spection works out in Washington
schools.
child came to school in the fash
tpnable northwest with a sore
throat Swelling set in and mumps
4 wasrecognized. 1t developed that
she had relatives at home i'll with
the mumps. though that fact. under
the present rules, would not have
excluded her from attending school
Her condition finally became notice.
able to her teacher. But she had
associated, for a day, with her
school mates. Within a week tho
teacher and fifteen other pupils were
absent with the mumps.
Under the visiting nurse pJ<1, long
advocated by school officials, and
now provided for in the appropria-
ton act. supervision of the home
would have prevented this child
from attending school at all when
symptoms of disease were found.
One Marrow Escape.
Another striking case occurred last
month. Medical inspectors visit
schools twice a week. A child came
10 school Wednesday with a rash on
her face. The teacher sent her
home and reported the case to the
inspector. when he arrived next
day.
Send for the chiId,", the teacher
was ordered.
The teacher sent a girl who had
recently had measles to bring the
tirst child to the inspector The child
vas brought, and ii was found she
had smallpox! Fortunately, her COM
nanion escaped contagion.
On such cases as this. teachers
base their plea for a home medical
Inspection 1t is alleged that not
only Is the present system farcical,
soes. but it consumes valuable time
Of the already overburdened teach
cYs.
Attention was called to some Of
the regulations governing the med
ical inspection of schools. Section 2,
Of these regulations provides that
Every teacher. Immediately after
the opening of school each day. will
carefully observe the general ex-
preston and condition Of every pu-
Dil and determine whether any Of
them present appearance sugges.
tive of the advisability of exclusion
under the provisions of these resula-
TONS
Rule Dead Letter.
In other words" remarked an
eighth grade teacher, this reg1Ila-
tion either is a dead letter. or. IL 1t
IS TO be carried out conscientiously,
he teacher must take valuable time,
before she has read the Bible and
offered prayer, to inspect each pupil
for symptoms Of disease A teacher
has not time for this even if she
gere supposed to be qualified for
Surh examination.
More time is lost when the medical
Inspector comes around. The regu-
iations require that the inspector
shall examine pupils in the presence
Of the principal or in the presence
OF a teacher detailed by the pr!nci-
pal for that purpose. II is further
proTited that in his inspection the
physician shall afford the principal
and teachers every opportunity to
observe the evidence and to learn
tho reason upon which he bases his
recommendation, SO that the princi-
pal and teachers may be better able
thereafter to select from among the
PUPILS unOeF their care tnOSe VINO.
by reason OF defect or disease. are
unfit to attend school.
I'm other words. a teacher. in
addition to her other duties. must be
ready 10 attend contagious disease
clinic twice a week.
Too Much Work for Examiners.
A medical examiner now cover.
an entire school division. Because
Of his heavy duties. he only gets
around twice a week, and has no
time within the three hours a day
he is expected to spend in his
officials duties, to receive office
visits from pupils or to go to
homes.
This fact. teachers assert. opens
a wide opportunity for contagion.
In the matter Of measles. no GER
tificate for re-admisseon is re-
quired. Pupils are to be excluded
for twenty-one days from begin
ming Of disease. Those exposed also
are to be excluded for that period.
But upon their return, they must
be referred to the medical in
spector.
School doors are open at $3.50
o'clock. A pupil may re-enter the
building at that time, mingle with
his playmates. and, at 9 o'clock. he