The Washington times., 1919-05-31


projects
We decorate ourselves to celebrate what think we
have done when should put sackoth and ashes for
the things we have neglected.
Let US humble ourselves today by considering the chill
dren of this country and how neglecting them
The trouble is that we do take the trouble to
quaint ourselves with real conditions.
Fortunately there men who are generous
enough with their time and their talents properly study
those things from which of indoently turn away
One such man is Dr. Thomas D. Wood, professor of
physical education at Columbia University who has written
for the June number of Good Housekeeping most asound
ing article on the neglect of American children
You may think that Dr. Wood is preaching about the
sum chldre the offspring Of the poor But he is not he
talks of the school children Of the country concerning
whom he has collected from official sources exraord
nary facts and figures
Read them and be amazed
cat least one per cent-20O,OOO of the 100000
school children in the United States-are mentally
defective
cover one per cent-2500OO at least-of the chill
dren are Handicapped by organic heart disease.
"At least FIVE per cent, OOOO OO-have now, or
have had tuberculosis danger often to others well
as to themselves.
Five per cent-1,OOOOOG of them-have defective
hearing, which, unrecOgnized, gives many the unde-
served reputation of being mentally defective.
twenty-five per cent-5 0OOO-of, these school
children have defective eyes, majority of these chill
dren have received no attention.
about twenty-five per cent 100000 children
suffering from malnutrion and poverty is not the
most important of this serious barrier to healthy
development.
''From fifteen to twenty-five per ceht-3OOOOOO to
5OOOO00-have adenoids diseased tonsils, or other
glandular defects !
"Adenoids and diseased tonsils make backward
pupils and interfere with the chlds general develop
ment and health
"From ten to twenty per cent 100000 to 4,OOO,-
oOO-have weak foot arches weak spnes or other joint
defects.
"FrOm fifty to seventyfve per cent-1O,OOOOOO to
15O0O00-have defective teeth and defective teeth are
more or less injurious to health.
"Seventy-fv per cent-15, 00OO0O-have physical |
defects which potentially actually detrimental to
health
Would you have believed that such record was posi-
BILE?
Would you have believed that nation which in a few
months found possible to physically and mentally examine
millions of as to their fitness fight would continuously
neglect many millions of little children suffering from
defects most of which could be remedied?
We care our livestock better we care for our
children Men are paid test animals disease and pro-
vide for their curing
We pay attention to the dirt under our feet for
any farmer send sample of soil from his farm to the
Agricultural Department and it is dseased-for soil has
its diseases the human bengs-an expert will pre-
scribe cure.
Dr. Wood goes into further detail than it possible to
do here More than that he devses and advises plan for
the correction of this evil
Every father and mother should read the entire article
It should be the desk Of every board of education
and school teacher.
1t should be studied by every member Of every legsa
ture in the country and be the subject Of corrective and con-
struCtive action by the United States Congress.
Every child is potential man To hinder
development by such criminal negligence as Dr. Wood
depicts to coming generations with weakened race