The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-11-09
DR.. E. W. johnson s .eers Ser
vices Free of Charge; h. u euts
and Teachers to Co-ope- y
QUESTIONS SENT TO RURAL
SCHOOLS TO LOCATE CASES
W. B. Stewart, County Superintend-
ent of Schools, Writes Officers
in Regard to Work.

the health Of the children In the Bel
trami county schools.
DR.. E. w. Johnson has volunteered
his services absolutely free OF
charge to the teachers, school officers
and parents who will cooperate with
him to improve the health of the
children. AS he will not be able to
visit each school he is sending out a
series of questions that may be an
swered and in such a way he will
be able to locate the cases where ad-
vice and direction may be needed.
Teachers to Cooperate.
All the teachers of the county have
been requested to cooperate with DR..
Johnson by w. B. Stewart, county
superintendent of schools.
Among the questions on the firsl
Rural School Health survey sent to
the teachers of the county are the
following:
Is there any breaking out or erup-
tion of skin among your school chill
dren? Do any of the children
breathe through the mouth? Are
any deficient in special senses? Are
any restless or backward in their
studies? How often are school
buildings and out buildings cleaned =?
Is drinking water supplied by foun-
tain or pail and dipper? What is
done to furnish fresh air and sun
light in the school room? Is the
MONDAY lunch served warm or cold :?
Is the afternoon work Of the child
equal to the forenoon?
Letter to Teachers.
The following is the contents of a
letter written by w. 3. Stewart,
county superintendent of schools, to
the teachers:
"At no other time as at the pres
ent has-so4m mnehz interest heens taken
in promoting the health and welfare
of school children. The common
drinking cup and pail are prohibited
by law. Pure air and sunlight are
required in all modern school build
ings. The warm lunch is fast taking
reason for these and other changes
for the better may be found in the
glaring though sad fact that from
thirty to forty per cent Of children
never reach the age of maturity. In
vestigation has shown that rural
school children are less healthy and
known to be handicapped by more
physical defects than are the chill
dren of the cities. Sixty per cent of
our children attending school are in
rural schools. It is at such age and
it may be in such environment the
germs of disease find easiest access
and quickest lodgment. Then once
such germs become established in the
growing, developing child at least
one-third of the victims are incurable
and die.
Volunteers Services.
"To overcome the dangerous con-
ditions of children in the cities,
school nurses and school doctors are
employed to make a careful examina-
tion of each child and to suggest
means of restoring the ailing of
health and vigor. AS such a plan
has not been applied to rural schools
although it appears the need is as
fully apparent as in the towns or
cities. That something may be done
to promote the health and welfare
of the rural school children of Bel
trami county, DR.. E. w. Johnson has
volunteered his services absolutely
free of charge if the teachers, the
school officers and the parents will
kindly cooperate with him to i'm
prove the health of the children. He
cannot visit each school, but through
this Office he is sending out a series
of questions that may be answered
and in such way locate the cases
where advice and direction may be
needed. Such is the purpose and
plan of the work proposed.
Up to Teachers.
1T is apparent that the success of
this work will depend almost wholly
upon the interest in such taken by
you, teacher, and for such reason it
is the desire to have your earnest
cooperation in all that may be done
If you believe each one of the chill
dren under. your care and direction
is entitled to full measure of health
and happiness as we'll as learning
and culture this request of you will
be unnecessary. It is needless to say
that as county superintendent of Bel
trami county most heartily endorse
the work initiated by DR.. Johnson
and trust he will receive the loyal
support Of each and every one"