Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-02-28
PHYSICAL EFFICIENCY

The American people We're -astounded
when recent results proved ITO them
that one cut of every four young naen
il this country was physically unfit to
bear arms, under the selectiYe ;draft
service examinations.
1t is also more astounding when il is
brought to our notice that os3 9t he
25.0aa. coo school children in America.
15,O0O0O0 are suffering from some
physical defect which might be pre-
vented or corrected. OF this $4,000, 900
children it is estimated that at least
100000 are suffering from malnutri-
ton. This is a disease. which if al
lowed to grow win become as danger
ous as tuberculosis but is much east
er prevented. Such children may be
recognized by the following symptoms:
u1derweight. pale, a1aemic. inatten
rive, disinclined to run and play, east
" fatigued. both mentally and physi-
caIly, and are often retarded in their
school work
This condition is brought about by
uadernourishing and lack of proper di-
ct To eliminate as many cases of mall
nutrition and minor physical defects as
possible. we win begin a course of in
struction for the grades and the high
school.
The work for the grades VIII be han
died by Miss McFall, the school nurse,
and viii consist of instruction in person.
NJ and school hygiene. with instruc
tion in the proper eating and the prop !
er foods. In the high school, a course
viii be offered the next semester which !
VIII include personal and public by
eie1e and sanitation instruction in
his class will be given by Miss, Nc
l'all. Miss Barber and Mr.. Wesson. :.
Miss McFall viii have charge of the
instruction in personal hygiene and
sanitation. Miss Barber. having had
special training as dietitian, will give
obstruction in dietetics, and Mr. Wesson
will handle the public hygiene and san
itation work We fell that much good
viii be accomplished by these courses
If the parents. and the people in gener-
a. viii cooperate with us. If your
child finds that by careful instruction
that its diet has contained too much
sweet and fats, help it make the
change to other kinds of food If it
hnds that its teeth are becoming faulty
from lack of propr care. see that it
gives that care to its teeth
We hope, if the time is available. to
give physical examinations to all the
school children before the close of the
school year. One of onr local doctors
has kindly consented to give his servi-
res to assist the school nurse in this
work. The results in every case will
pc communicated to the parents. with
suggestions as to the best methods for
aacE specific defect
1t is just as essential, or even more ;
90 that the child be physically fit as it !
$ that it be mentally fit 1t is impossi- i,
be for child suffering from physical :
.ilment to get the greatest good from I,
Is school work.
1t is our hope that we may correct asi :
many Of these physical defects as pos
ihle. This will be done through the
dvice of the school nurse and where !
.ossible, by giving the proper physical
Xercise Not having q gymnasium Of
ur own il is impossible to give each
HID personal instruction in correct y
ge exercises. =
I am sure that the parents Of this o
win appreciate this move
on the physical oeterment Of our chill -
rem and viii help US to make our t.
ehools as nearly physically Gt as pos p
bile For when children are normall
Too many people look upon fire pre- in
sntion as they do npon savings ac- II