Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-09-14
FOR HEALTH OF
SCHOOL CHILDREN
Cooperation of'the Teachers
Asked to Prevent Spread
of Disease.

The schools OF the city having
opened City Health officer Parker
urges the teachers and parents of the
city to vigorously co-ope vate with the
health department in its efforts to
minimize the spread Of contagious and
infectious diseases among the school
children of Boise. and he speaks of
the matter as follows:
"The opening of school means the
beginning of renewed vigilance over
the h~alth OF Bosses hundreds of school
children. Being mindful OF the great
importance of the work, the health de-
partment will take up its work of in
spection and sanitary regulation and
pursue it with all the facilities and
energy at its disposal. The corpora
ton of teachers will be sought IS in
the past and every safeguard win be
thrown about the children so as to pre-
vent the spread of any communicable
disease that may be carried to the
school room.
While the school nurse is able to
do effective work, there Is much that
must depend upon cooperation on the
part of teachers and parents. To be-
gin With, parents should not send their
children to school when they are suf-
1ering with any ailment which bears
the symptoms of a communicable dis
ease Spots and sores on the face,
sore threat, fever swollen glands and
other symptoms that may appear mild
at first may be the forerunners of
something serious. While it may not be
~,
every time minor symptoms appear, if
any question arises in the parents
mind it would be well to keep the all
ing child under close observation III
order to note whether or not these
symptoms develop or pass away.
Teachers 1t may be said. have even
a greater responsibility. They must
keep all their pupils under observa-
ton, particularly for minor skin dis
eases, number of which are highly |
infectious. If n child appears at school /
in a condition that arouses the teach
er's suspicion, she should at once take |
the matter up with the school nurse, |
keeping the child isolated or sending it /
home i'm the meantime. In cases where I
q child appears a greater part of the Z
time in a condition that suggests lack \
oi familiarity with soap anu water and .
hathtub an inoffensive note to the .
parents may work a decided change /
from an hNgienic standpoint, Soap /
and water are inexpensive and there
is 80 valid reason for sending children
~ school unwashed and without rea-
sonab.y clean apparel
Another thing teacher must
watch and that is ventilation. AS
! ave SAID on other occasions. II the
Nnooes are kept closed and fresh air
l. 1&c,uded an epidemic OF colds will
/ certain to develop. Furthermore,
children in close room are unable TO
60 good work. Air breatned over and
over is minus its DEMONSTRATING prop
critics. In their place a multitude OF
poisons are found, the result of the re-
breathing of the air. The teacher who
toerates a close and stuffy school
room. even in cold weather will have
a stupid and siekly class. In wet
weather teachers should also look out
for wet feet and damp clothing 1t
would be far better for child to be
absent from school than for 1t to sit
with damp clothing or wet feet through
the day. Precaution in the schools and
in the homes of Boise will no dou Il
prevent much sickness and some deaths
among children here during the pres
ent school year"