The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-04
Parental Ignorance
~ n. ApDiNcToN BRUCE,
Author Of ~The Riddle Of Personality"
Psychology and Parenthood," etc.

That parents. n q class, are sti1 far from ap
preciatins the harmful effects Of seemingly triv-
ial ailments Of childhood Ii clearly brought out
~ some statistics issued by the Chicago School
~ Sanitary Instruction. and quoted In tho Jour.
nal q the American Medical Association"
These statistics relate to the results Of the
medical examination made In the schools OF Chi
cago last year. They leave NO doubt that chill
physloal detects than II commonly supposed. and
Also that there II real need for q campaign Of
education among parents to persuade them OF
The Importance Of having these defects remedisd
without delay.
Altogether the medical examiners in the Chi
eago schools passed on 75,476 children. OF these.
lS,17s were found ailing in some way. and s.
were advised to seek treatment
In the case Of every one of the IS, AS q note
wns sent TO the parents, telling them Of the
nature Of the ailment and suggesting the kind
of treatment which ought to be adopted Only
- per cent Of the parents to whom such notes
were sent acted on the advice given them. In
detail the figures are:
OF l,osl cases Of aaenoids. 737, or about IL
Per cent, were treated: Of 6.754 cases of dis
eased tonsils. 223. or hardly more than per
cant, were treated; Of 1,254 cases Of discharging
ears. treatment was sought In only lis cases, or
less than 10 per cent.
Children to the number of 1894 were found 70
be suffering from defective vision, correction Of
which was secured In 1926 cases. or Q little
over IL per cent. Actual disease of the eye was
found In 7449 cases. OF these only 134, less than
per cent, were treated.
II IL impossible to believe that the thousands
of Chicago parents who. according to these sta
tistics, neglected To act on the advice given
them. were really indifferent TO the welfare of
their children. Their neglect can be attributed
only to ignorance Of the possible after effects
and complications Of the ailments In question.
They do not know that adenoids, enlarged ton
sils. and running ears may have consequences
that will not only weaken their children phys
ically but also enfeeble them mentally.
They do not know that there In a direct rela-
ton between these throat and ear ailments and
more serious diseases which may mean years Of
suffering to the children, and perhaps hurry them
Ito untimely deaths
They do not know that children with defective
vision and eye diseases Of any kind are handi-
capped In their ability to study, and are also
under perpetual strain that may eliminate in
hysterical attacks or nervous breakdown.
They do not know these things, for II they did
II In safe to say that such lamentable showing
- that revealed by the Chicago statistics would
never be made.
But II Is time that every parent knew the facts
which modern medical research has brought to
n9nt regarding the physical defects of child.
hood, and their physical. mental and moral
after-efec
To this end all agents In public instruction.
nom the newspaper and magazine editor to the
social worker in the citys Sums should heartily
land earnestly cooperate
Otherwise things will remain much "A indi.
|coted BY the experience OF the Chicago medical
|examiners the taxpayers money spent for the
|med1cd examination OF school children win be
[Jafvoly wasted, and the health and vfrljty Of the
|aefIoA vm eeutinus 70 be seriously sndangseol.