The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-02-06
PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLOSE
ON ACCOUNT OF INFLUENZA

The public schools of Pennington
We're closed Wednesday morning by
order Of the Board Of Education on
account of the rapid spread of inf1u-
enza in the community, and particu-
lerly among the pupils. The latter
psf Of last week few scattered cas-
cs were noted in Pennington by the
local physicians. Teachers had been
previously instructed to be on guard
for any infected pupils and to use ev-
cry possible means to protect the chill
Gren from infection. In spite Of ev-
cry precaution the disease began to
att: elk the pupils of the high school
and upper grades, until by Tuesday
night the best reports available inii-
Gated that approximately seventy
cases had developed among school
children. Of tits number fifty-three
were pupils in .he High School Build
ing. In addition 70 the children lc.
tually affected there were reported
sixty children detained from school
on account of influenza in the home.
Another ninety children were out Of
school the cause unknown. The attend
:rce Was 40 affected that over thirty
per cent of the children were absent
on Tuesday. In view of these facts
the Board reached an abrupt conclus-
ion to close early Wednesday morning.
1t was also desired by the Board Vi
Education, and concTrred in by the Lo-
cal Health Board, that all school
children should be kept from congre-
eating in groups in any part OF the
town, especially in the business c2c-
ton that is liable to be a center OF in
lection. Before dismissal from school
the children were so instructed and a5
a rule are carefully complying with
tire request. Some, however, have re-
fused to cooperate and must be con-
tinually admonished to prevent them
from violating the instructions. A
few parents have rot seen the necesS-
iSy of such precaution and deliberat-
ely take their children, some times
two or three in group, and go indis-
criminateiy into any part OF town and
into numbers Of business houses that
tie more or less crowded. All arc
cgreed that it is only by the most
careful control of the situation that
we cen hope to stamp out the malady,
vet it seems that the closing of the
schools and tho picture show, which
was voluntary on the part of the man.
agemcnt, is about all the precaution
that is being taken,
It seems that the rapid spread OF
the influenza in Pennington was, in
some measure. due to the liberal .po-
Icy announced by the State Board OF
Health some two or three weeks ago
In complying with that policy no ut
tempt was bong made to isolate those
who had been exposed to infection. lr
a few cases that lave coRe to the
knowledge Of the school management
children from homes that were lnfe3t'
ed were directed by the family phys
ician to continue in school and no re-
port of the prevalence of the disease
was made either to the health author
tiles or to the schools. 1t seems that
some of the visible symptoms that pre-
vailed so conspiciously last year arr
lacking this year and it is believed
tffat several sick children REMAINED
prob: bly for several hours in thu
school room before any one suspected
tim of being sick. On making temper
sturn tests. numbers of children in thu
upper grades were found that wer!
two or three degrees above normal
vet they insisted that they were no
sick and suffered no pains. Tn
most of them have since developed in
fluenZa.
1t is sincerely hoped that the Stat
Board of Health will get awakened {
the folly of their early instruction ant
cdops more strict regulations for tn
guidance of County and City Board
of Health, and that the practising ply
sicians may be saved the embarras
sment of over-stepping the instruc
tons of the State Board in his at
temp. to control the epidemic anon
his patients. ~
No date has been set for the re-op
ching Of school, yet those in pc
ssition to know best insist that 1t Shout
not be more than few days, probabl,
by tine middle Of next week, or per
haps earlier. Much depends upon n
good judgment and strict prcca'!!
tiono observed by the average citl