Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-24
the SCHOOL nA,A,a,s OPPORTUNITY.

July the law passed by the latest
legislature opening the hospital at
Iowa City to deformed and crippled
children of the poor becomes Of effect
| The teachers especially should in
form themselves as to this law for
with great common sense the legisla-
tors gave the teachers especial rights
Of initiative in this important matter.
Parents Of crippled Of deformed chill
dren or Of children afflicted with
maladies which may be remedied by
skill and hospital treatment, whose
finances are such that the case has
been perforce neglected should know
that there is balm in Gilead and a
physician there"
Here is summing up of the law:
Any judge of a district or superi or
court sitting as Juvenile court may
on his own motion or on information
furnished by & probation officer, an
overseer of the poor, regularly
licensed physician, or public school
teacher, Of a child under sixteen wears
Of age suffering with q deformity or
malady which may probably De
renedied, order a hearing on the facts
in the case. the parents and the count!
attorney being notified. The judge Is
empowered 10 appoint local physician
10 examine the child and report TO hin.
or blanks furnished by the state Tor
this purpose, concerning the con0!uoh
Of the child and whether in his opln-
ion there is a probability that he may
be helped b. proper treatment II u
appears 10 the court that such Is tHe
case, and the parents give their con-
sent, the child may then be committed
to the university hospital at Iowa OK!
for treatment, and the actual expenses
at the hospital will be paid by the state
on the order Of the executive council.
No fees are allowed to the physicians
for this treatment. The only expense
the state will be put to will be the
actual expenses of carrying for the
child in the university hospital.
Midland Schools, an Iowa teachers
publication, in its editorial columns
puts the case we'll when It says:
This act will prove veritaole boon
to many children in this state. we
have at Iowa City now one OF the best
medical colleges in the country. 1t
is one Of twenty-five medical institu-
tons rated by the American Medical
Association as the "a plus" class. The
medical faculty OF the university con-
ta;ns some OF the most eminent
specialists in the United States, many
of whom are devoting the major por-
ton of their time to clinical Work ana
who make money-mak!ng secondar!
matter. By the provisions Of this act
the services of these skillful and con-
sc;entious specialists are made avail
able to every afflicted child within the
borders Of this state whose parents are
no, able to pay for proper treatment in
the usual way.
AS we look at It, one OF the wisesc
provisions Of this bill is the one which
permits public school teachers to take
the initiative. Public school teachers
more than any other persons know the
needs OF the children Of the COM
munity in which they work. and as
nile they know the circumstances OF
the parents as well. We hope that
teachers will take note OF this and Il
they have knowledge of children who
properly come under the court in the
county in which they reside, and thus
secure for the children the relief which
the bill offers. No other service they
can render will have such lasting
effect for good.