Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-09
Important Points on School Hy-
giene Brought Out and Dis
cussed - Medical Inspection
And Recommendations
COMBATING TUBERCU-
LOSIS IN SCHOOLROOM
The Conservation of Vision
How to Make Evening Schools
More Efficient-Small High
Schools Place and Function

Castine, Me, July S.-(SpeciaD-At
the morning session of the School Con-
ference held at this place today the
general topic of school hygiene was
discussed.
DR.. James A. Spalding of Portland
spoke on some suggestions for super
intendents regarding conservation of
vision, bringing into account the COM
parative size of the standard test type
and the marks made by crayons on
black boards. Teachers pay insuffic-
lent attention to the fact that most
lines and figures made on black boards
fall below the size of those standard
test types which should be seen across
a school room. Owing to lack of in
struction from this point of view, the
eyes of the scholars were strained in
order to see black board examples, as
in algebra and geometry. Many of
| the music charts also, were defective
in this respect; the outlines of the
whole and half notes, the stems of the
quarter and eighth notes and the lines
of the staff, sharps and fats all being
! too thin to be properly seen. Various
sorts of crayons We're mentioned and
| free hand exhibits made to show how
the superintendent could cause in
struction to be given in order to pre-
vent eve strain.
Eye strain also is due to looking at
a book near at hand, and then at
badly outlined figures at a distance
on the boards.
The speaker suggested, in the in
terest of scholars convalescent from
Illness. that owing to eye strain then
In, Ion
out of school than their merely physi-
cal condition would demand. In con-
clusion, the speaker emphasized care
in the annual Eye Sight testing of
the children, according to the excellent
laws for the Conservation of Vision
! already upon the Statue books of the
| State.
A. j. Torsleff, secretary of the Maine
| Anti-Tuberculosis Association, IN Of
ferlng a few practical suggestions for
| combat tuberculosis in the schools
| referred to the new law banishlng the
common cup, recommending the gal
vanized tank with cover and faucet
1 for country schools, with paper which
pupils may fold into cups as needed.
ard then throw away. For places
! where they had a water system some
kind of bulb fountain with not less
than a Sin. Jet.
The Punishment of the common PEN
| ell with strict rules against borrowing
and lending rigidly enforced were
urged.
More attention must be given to
methods and systems of ventilation,
and much greater care of sanitation
the conditions he had found in some
places almost beggaring description
! No child can maintain normal eondl-
tions and breathe foul air. Putting
double windows on many school houses
! making proper, even any, ventilation
| practically impossible, is a pernicious
practice.
The speaker eontended that the open
air school is no longer an experiment
but a proved success; that those chill
dren who attend such schools attain d
standard of efficiency from 20 per cent
to % per cent obove those in other
schools. Open air schools serve as
preventoria for both defective and
4 normal children.
Much good is accomplished in pre-
venting epidemics of contagious dis
cases by promptly excluding every sus-
|
stages. thus protecting other pupils
| from exposure, as well as safeguard
ing their return Much help is render
ed in notifying parents of develop
| mental defects, the prompt correcting
of which conserves that ability to re-
| sist disease from within or without
inherent in every normal human be-
ing. Effort is made to avoid deforrnity
by correcting bad habits of posture
| and carriage and in relieving the child
of those burdens of defective sight and
| hearing that so often handicap the in
| tellect till the child seems mentally
defective.
One result of medical inspection is
the exclusion of parasitic skin disease,
and now that the role of insect life In
the spread Of typhoid. typhus. infan-
file paralysis and other less common
| diseases, is understood. the Importance
of the subject Is realized.
Among the sanitary and hystenic i'm
provements are fly proof concrete
vaults for country schools. improved
| heating and ventilating, the sanitary
bubbling drinking fountain, paper
toweling and adjustable shade rollers.
But the weak place in the system Is
the want of efficient means OF reach
ing the parent who should be RESPONSE
BILE for the correction Of the physical
defect in the child and the attention
TO personal hygiene 80 often neglected
by the parent who is poor, ignorant or
| indifferent.
Efficiency in detecting these needs is
rendered futile by want Of adequate
means of correction. and he advocates
municipal medical charity in afford
ing free eye glasses, free dentistry and
the services Of the school nurse.
general discussion followed which
Included the ACCESSIBILITY of legis-
lation toward lettering the lighting
ventilation, heating and sanitation in
school buildings already constructed
/ In tho State.
Two sessions were held Tuesday. AT
one Of these, which was attended by
the superintendents Of schools of the
larger towns. w. Stanwood Field, di-
rector Of Public Evening Schools OF
Boston, described the method o. MAX
ing evening schools more efficient.
At the meeting Of those interested