Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-02-28
INSPECTION FOR
SCHOOL CHILDREN
Womans Club Urges That A
Nurse Be Employed to Im-
preve the Physical Condi-
tion of the Pupils.

Almost year ago the Virginia leg.
islature passed an Act providing foi
public health nursing, medical in
spection and health inspection Of the
school children" No statute passed
during the session was more timely,
or should mean more to the States
future progress than this. By that
Act Boards of Supervisors are en-
powered unfortunately not required)
ito make direct appropriations out
of the public funds of the country to
provide for the inspection of school
children and the employment of n
school nurse to visit the schools and
the homes in an effort to prevent the
spread of disease, and to provide for
the treatment of many ailments, if
allowed t. ocontinue, will result di-
sastrously to the pupils"
The State has at last awakened
to the fact that unless something is
done to improve health conditions
among its children it must fall behind
in this age of efficiency" and no
longer will che be able to proclaim
with pride that he is Virginian.
The day has passed when one could
make his way on what his ancestors
did and were-today one must be
equipped with healthy mind and
body and a good education to keep
abreast with the times.
Official statistics show that 20 per
cent of the money expended for edu-
cation in the United States is wasted
on account of physical defects, most
of which can be relieved. 1t seems
poor economy to continue to spend
money in an endeavor to train minds
SO handicapped when simple medical
Invariably about so per cent of the
children who have been examined in
schools located in different parts of
the country have been found to be
suffering from removable physical de-
fects, and where there has been a
school nurse most of these have re-
ceived the needed attention, and the
improvement in school progress has
been wonderful, and The benefit to
the children beyond estimation. These
children very likely would have grown
up weal;lings III some way, never at
tanning their proper development.
One of the striking results of the Sc
lective Service was that about 30 per
cent of the men examined were re-
jected as physically unfit for mill
tary service, and more of men from
rural districts were found unfit than
those from cities. One reason for that
copdition was lack of attention in
childhood, to bad teeth, defective eye
sight, adenoids, and malnutrition.
During the month of January, DR..
w. P. Cation, medical director of the
Virginia State Board of Health for
Warren county, inspected the Front
Royal High School. Out of n total
of 346 pupils examined, 2S1 or 81
per cent were found to have decay
ed teeth; 54, or Is per cent. had de-
fectlye vision; ST, or 25 per cent.
were suffering from enlarged ton
sils; IS pupils with adenoids were
found and 26 pupils with defective
hearing. The Front Royal school is
no exception.
About 10 per cent. of the counties
in Virginia are now employing ply
siciaa and nurse to inspect the chill
drcn of the schools. Some are doing
splendid work, some are just begin
ming. What is Tazewell doing? Taze-
well is Just beginning-beginning
right now while you read this arti-
Gle. You mothers and fathers want
the best for your children, you want
them to make their grades every
wear: you want their minds and bod
ies to keep apace as they grow to
manhood and womanhood. Then, see
to it that they have every chance.
A school nurse for Tazewell would
mean better health for the children,
and clearer minds, and more rapid
progress in school work, fewer cpl
denies, less time lost out of the years
work by closing Of schools, lessons
to children OF the care of their bodies,
the warding off of evil habits, evil
curiosity, and evil talk, simple sani-
tary measures to be used at home,
and much practical knowledge on con-
tapeous diseases that would do much
for the i,salth of the community.
Does Tazewell want school nurse?
Make it such an unanimous YES that
the Board Of Supervisors cannot re-
sist public opinion, and will give US
one not later than September, 1919.
Yon do your part in beating the
Germans in carrying on propaganda,
and see to it that every one you know
talks it up.
THE TAZEWELL WOMANS CLUB.
uyy1Dc MIIY CONTRJRIrVJON