Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-04-11
PHYSICAL ExAagINATg0N OF.
apH(lOI CHILDREN

Fhile Il Is apparent that some mis-
takes In method were made In the con
duet oE the recent physical tests Of the.
children in the Annapolis Public
school, the public. and particularly
tlsose parents whose children were
examined. must remember that the
purpose of the examination IS highly
iauaable. and for the protection of the
children as q whole. III mistakea are
made. they are III matters Of detail, and
are greatly outweighed By the un-
doubted good that can be done. and f.
being done. BY the examinations.
The whole Question has been very
thoroughly discussed In the legisia-
aures Of this and other states, and such
examinations have heen made def-
mite part OF the State law II may be
observed. however. at this point that
the examination recently conducted
ut Annapolis was moi under the direct
authority Of the state Law nor II the
manner prescribed BY II
The law OF The State provides that
county school commissioners may APP
point one pr more school physicians
ard the examination ia compulsory on
all children The Language of the Law
il, ..school commissioners shall oause
every child attending the public
acnonls TO be separately and carefully
tested and examined at least once iii
every two years 8
II will be seen that the law leaves
no discretion 10 the parents whatever.
ii II q measure paased Ia the interest
ns ali the pupils Of the achoois and
those with whom they come In con-
tact afterwards, and cannot Be rom
derea nugatory BY the objections Of
any individual any more than they
could prevent vaccination Or any other
approved form al prophyiactic for the.
general protection.
However, lie recent examination
was not conducted under the law.
though ii had the approval Of the
county school authorities. II was q
part of the work of the Public Ath-
letic League, and Ii was stated on au-
thority that no child would be ex-
aminea Ii the child Of parents OBJ
jected. This. 1t seems clear, was not
known to the parents generally, and
some we're subjected to the examina
ton who did not wish II. BY permit
ting the examinations by physician
sent BY this organization, the schools
received some OF the benefits OF the
plan, and we're saved ell expense, 9
consideration not 10 be overlooked nm
der present conditions.
A clear error was made IN telling
some OF the children III the presence
III their companions 81 certain appar-
ent defects That this was decided
mistake Is recognized By superin-
tendent Fox and Il may bc said upon
his authority that Ii will be renedied
Further. DR.. Burdick. the head Of the
league. viii appear before the patrons
shortly and viii explain the purposes
and methods OF the whole work He
should, and viii be. accorded con-
slaerate hearing.
Let us not condemn . system which,
II properly conducted, will confer
great good upon children and public.
ard may save the health and lives Of
many Of the younger generation, be-
cause the human element. which must
enter into uli things Is the cause Of
some mistakes. The effort to discover
and remove. as far as possible. the
sources OF disease and physical weak
ness. and protect the health Of the pu-
pills N general, is certainly one which
should be warmly supported