Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-03-11
County Nurse Will
Visit City Schools

Next week Miss Allen, the Jackson
county public health nurse, will
make a systematic inspection of the
children of the Ashland schoolsS be-
ginning with the Hawthorne build
ing.
I The inspection will be conducted
in as careful and considerate a man
ner as possible. The child will be
taken aside in another room and ex-
amined as to breathing and throat
conditions, the eyes, the teeth and
general physical condition. If trou-
Bile or defects are suspected, a sealed
note will be sent to the parents tell
ing them of the suspicious symptoms
found and advising that they take
the child to the family physician or
dentist for diagnosis and care. II
the child's condition is considered
sufficiently serious td warrant it,
the nurse will call upon the parents
and explain the case more fully. And
if it is found that for financial reas.
ons the childs defects are not being
remedied, she will meet with the
family and help them plan some way
to get for the child the attention he
needs.
10 has been proven beyond all
question that children, even of most
careful parents, often are handi-
capped by hidden defects of which
the parents have been unaware.
Adenoids, diseased tonsils and de-
cayed teeth are the causes of a large
variety of frequently very serious
troubles and their presence is almost
always the direct reason for retarded
physical and mental development.
The growth of many of these defects
has been insidicus and the parents,
so closely associated with the child
day after day, have become so ia
miliar with his habits that they do
not always suspect their existence;
or, realizing the trouble, they still
do not understand the injury being
done the child. =
Miss Allen wishes it distinctly un-
derstood that it is not her intention
to force the inspection upon any
child or any school Parents who
for any reason object need only send |
a note to the teacher stating their OBJ
jections and no further effort will
be made regarding the child. This
inspection is in no sense compulsory
and is being offered to the schools
by Miss Allen because she considers
that the health of every school child
has necessary and vital relation to
the health of the community.
What she is doing in the schools
is absolutely without fee or remuner-
alton from the school districts. Her
salary is being paid by the associa-
ion which has sent her here, and |
Ter services, whether in the home or
school, are free to those who wish
o avail themselves of them. She is
n the county solely in the interests
If better health, and her aim is to
lelp and instruct and advise wher-
'ver she can so as to promote health
md prevent sickness. Whatever will
aise the standard of public health
Il Jackson county is of concern and
interest to her, and her offer to sur
ey the health conditions of the
chool children of the county is made
n the belief that the care of the
hildren of today affords tho best op-
'ortunity for insuring a sturdy and
fficient citizenship of tomorrow.
The hearty cooperation of the pa
rons of the schools is solicited by
liss Allen, and it is her hope that
n time this work may prove the be- :
shining of statewide inspection
nd supervision of the health of the
chool children. Jackson county,
Justly proud of its progressive spirit
nd of its leadership along many
mes and first in the state to have
county visiting nurse, may we'll
ope to be a pioneer and leader in
ublic health.
|