The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-04-22


THE medical examination OF schoo
children and health surveys II
schools have brought to light prevail
ing physical defects and laid a basis
} for a movement for better health
One OF the purposes OF n health sur
vey Is to secure information in re-
spect to the kind OF hygiene teaching
most needed. In the health survey
questions are asked of the pupil or
parent. There are also questions to
be answered by the teacher or nurse
The questions to be answered by the
teacher or nurse cover general ap-
pearance, mental conditions, nervous
conditions. teeth. nose and throat.
ears, eyes, and communicable diseases
Of the skin.
Surprising Conditions.
Tn health survey OF sixteen cities
in Minnesota some rather surprising
conditions were found. Use of COM
mon tooth brush prevailed in per
cent Of cases. Fifty per cent had
never been to a dentist. The daily
use OF coffee prevailed in ~ per cent
Of the cases. Eighty-two per cent of
| the school children in Pipestone,
Mimi. for example, drank coffee. In
! Albert Lea SIS per cent OF the school
children had no ventilation in their
1
i courses in hygiene is indeed making
| progress under the influence Of the
/ school nurse and the medical inspec-
/ tor The newer textbooks upon
| physiology and hygiene differ funda-
mentally from those published years
ago.
Agricultural Problems.
There is a distinct recognition of
| community needs in the newer text
| books dealing with arithmetic. There
has been an immediate perception Of
the needs in agricultural regions and
as result textbooks embodying farm
problems are now available. 1t is
doubtful, however, If the organization
OF such subject matter has been
based at all upon statistical reports
OF arithmetical needs in the country
or upon any surveying Of rural condi-
tons which should logically be re-
flected in farm arithmetios. Should
there be actual surveys of the arith-
metieal needs Of country communi-
ties, q thing quite possible to carry
out, il is a safe conclusion that sub
iect matter somewhat different from
any now offered under the head of
farm arithmetic would be provided.
One lecturer recently advocated here
in North Dakota that the subject Of
stocks and bonds should not be taught
to country children.
Fire Hazard Survey.
"A survey that disclosed conditions
in the community was conducted in
1917 at Leonard, n. d., by a student
Of the agricultural college. then
principal Of the school at that place.
This was a survey Of conditions in
the homes OF the community pertain
ing to fire hazards. The survey was
conducted under the guidance Of the |
principal by about one hundred |
pupils, each pupil reporting upon |
conditions at his own home. Seven |
ty-three points appeared in the sur
yey document the matters to be /
Investigated ranging from where the |
ashes were stored to the use Of safety |
matches and from lightning protec-
ton to the blistering OF woodwork by. /
the stove. This survey was a means /
OF stimulating interest among par
ents in the subject OF FIRE prevention. /
IL would be equally suggestive to any
teacher dealing in school with the
subject Of FIRE prevention. The teach
ing in the school could best proceed /
in the light Of the reported condi- /
tons. The report OF the existing FIRE /
hazards would serve as an outline Of i
topics for discussion in classes.
Application Of Survey, IL
The application Of the survey /
would result in changes in the con-
tent Of subjects taught in the schools. I
The teacher would be guided in selec-
ton Of topics and in emphasis. A /
grammar survey. applied to
individuals not IN school as well as
TO school pupils, would bring to light /
profitable facts. The teacher OF arith- /
metic or geography. or OF languages,
would know that his work was hit i
ting the mark il 1t were supported by /
surveys. The teacher OF bookkeeping i
who learned the exact needs of the /
farmer, housekeeper or small BUSH
ness man could give instruction of a i
highly practical kind.
Who Should Be Surveyed
The conception OF the school as a 1
community agency would suggest /
that surveys be made Of the needs /
Of the mmunity-fathers, mothers, /
children, and people in various en- /
Payments. Pupils in school are quite
within reach.
Field To Be Covered.
There Is no subject offered at /
present in the schools which might +
not be represented in a community |
inquiry. Music, drawing, hygiene, I
public speaking. mathematics-ever /
subject has relationships which could 4
vey Consider a survey Of public |
speaking. Such an inquiry might 90 l
to the very. roots Of public opinion /
and civic intelligence and invigorate,l
the teacher of expression or English I
with clear view Of the social posi- /
bilities OF the subject.
% Net Contain information.
1T would soon be found that the i
usual school subjects do not contain /
all the information needed IN daily /
affairs. A survey dealing with losses
and misfortuneH traceabIa to ignor-
ance would point to new kinds of
instruction. Here Is a case OF ignor-
ance Of the law. Here Is one OF UNI i
wise investment Another pertains
to ignorance OF machinery Here is
q case OF an accident arising from !
lack OF knowledge Unwise purchas- 4
Ing. faulty methods in employments,
smbittered personal relations, the use
of patent medicines, belief in dreams