Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-23
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Medical Inspection of School Children.

Medical Inspection of School Children.
 MT. Editor:-october 6. 1918, after a full and free discussion of the sub ject. the voters of Norwich in town meeting assembled decided by an overwhelming majority that our schools could be properly conducted, the physical condition of our children kept at 8 high standard, and their without the assistance of the politi- cal doctor (proffered gratis) or a corps of trained nurses.
 Whether the citizens erred in reach ing this conclusion can easily be Judged if we pursue the monthly re- ports of the State Board of Health is sued during the past year. Here we will discover that at no time and in no instance during that period has Norwich ever suffered when compared with other communities in the state but on several occasions has borne off the honors by exhibiting the low est death rate of any town in the state, notwithstanding large per- centage of the states insane and tub- erculous patients are domained with in our borders. In addition to the above the taxpayer can congratulate himself that the two thousand dollars asked for by the political doctors still remains in the town treasury. It | seen1A however judging from the Au- gust report of the State Board of | Health that the idea Of installing a l system of medical inspection is still
 uppermost in the minds of the poIiti-
 cal doctors and that they aim to apply l 1t in not only the largest towns and | cities but in the rural communities as | we'll, for the subject has been and is
 being discussed in the agricultural papers as we'll as the daily and week.
 ly press throughout the country. In 1 view of these facts it behooves the 1 citizen to keep close watch on the po- l htca1 doctors already in power and especially to closely scan measures in- | troduced into the next general assem-
 ply. else we shall wake from our leth-
 argy some fine morning to find that 1 they have established government | ownership of our children along with government ownership of railroads
 and other public utilities. J. B. s
 King. M. D., discussing this question
 in a medical magazine has this to say concerning medical inspection ot school children.
 'If history teaches any lesson, il teaches the ineffectiveness of doing fol people things which they ought to gc for themselves. In order to insure pro gress in civilization government
 must presume it's citizens to be in
 tellieent. Medical inspection of schoo children is based on the presumption
 that the American people are not in.
 telligent enough to care for their owr children and this presumption put in.
 to force will end by making them so.
 The state of parenthood predicate: the performance of certain duties ana
 the possession of certain rights. It i.
 the duty of parents to clothe, feed ed
 ucste and care foE the health of theil ! children. It is their right to say nov ] they shall be clothed. fed. educated
 and cared for in sickness. I find faul l with the medical examination O. school children because it takes tn, , duties and rights that are natural tt
 the parents and transfers them to tn, , state where they do not belong. His tory, experience, and common sense al , demonstrate that, no nation, no peo pie, no group of men, ever were help ed or their advancement promoted b.