The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-02-14
THE EVENING BANNER
BENNINGTON VERMONT
Wednesday, February ID, 1917.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
Results Compiled by Superintendent
John ., Whittier.


John D. Whittier.
Superintendent. John D. Whittier of
the bennington central supervision
district has conducted an examination
of eyes, ears, nose and throat of
pupils in the district and has an
nounced the following results:
Examinations were conducted by
forty-three teachers in as many
schools where eight hundred flfty-six
pupils were examined The following
summary is made from the reports
submitted.
Number of pupils found defec-
tive, 297 |
Per cent of pupils found defec-
tive, "a |
Number of boys examined 431 |
Per cent of boys found defec-
tive, 80 !
Number of girls examined 425 |
Per cent of girls found defec.
tive, Sc
Pupils defective in one or both
eyes only, 131
Per cent of all defects due to
eyes IA
Pupils defective in one or both
ears only II
Per cent of all defects due to
ears, 8
Pupils defective in nose only &c
, Per cent OF all defects due to
nose, 81
Pupils defective in throat only, Isl
! Per cent OF all defects due to
throat 26
| Pupils defective in two or more
organs. (eyes. ears. nose
or throat 81
Per cent of all defects due to
two or more CT above II
OF the eight hundred fifty-six pupils
examined SO per cent were considered
free of defects in the above organs:
10 Per cent were defective in eyes on
ly: l per cent were defective in ears
only: 3 per cent were defective in
nose only; per cent were defective
in throat only; SO per cent were de-
fective in two or more organs.
Following the examinations In the
several schools notices were sent to
parents notifying them Of the defects
found in their children with request
that they secure proper medical as
sistance to remedy the same.
II is very noticeable that several
parents have taken necessary steps 10
have their childrens eyes treated by
specialists but as yet no case has
been reported tn the superintendent
OF schools where parent has secured
necessary treatment for the defect in
the throat, the second largest in per
rent OF defects of all organs ex-
amined.
Each years school work is out
+. lined to be accomplished by normal
healthy school children. II is utter
~ in. possible to expect any child suf.i
fering from physical defects to ac-i
Complish the same amount OF work as |
his healthy classmate. Therefore. !
We urge parents learning Of the phys |
zeal defects Of their children, TO Sc |
cure necessary medical attendance for |
them at the earliest possible moment. |
Delay may be costly as regards the |
health and general intellect of the |
child
Few medical certificates are ever |
presented to the superintendent of /
schools as reason for pupils non at
tendance at school as result of the
examination of the eyes, ears, nose or
throat. Either the parent does not
feel that the child is suffering from
the defect or he does not feel that the
defect is serious enough to warrant
dismissal from school work
The state school laws require chill
dren between ages of eight and six
teen years to attend school unless
they have completed the elementary
school work, are needed for helping
support the family, or are suffering
from sickness. Where parents are
negligent about securing necessary
medical assistance for the child suf-
fering from defects in the eyes, ears,
nose or throat and the child Is to be
compelled to attend school should not
some means be provided for furnish
ing the necessary treatment at town
fective in one or more of the above
organs ! bring this matter to the at
tention of the school patrons.
{ is evident that medical inspec-
ton by a practicing physician is one
step toward the solution Of this prob
lem but we need the follow up work
that can so well be done by the
school nurse or district nurse as has
already been demonstrated in some
larger towns and cities. 1t is an inn
to exlAct that we shall
soon have school lurses or district
nurses in many Of the Vermont rural