The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-16
HEALTH TRAINING TO
Be PART Of STATE
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

After the first day OF September
1920. all Pupils IN all the public ell
ementary and high schools of the
state WALL receive as part of the edu-
cational program, examinations,
health instruction and physical train
ing to be prescribed by the state
board OF education with the approval
Off the state board of health
The bill Incorporating this pro-
vision in the Virginia educational sys-
tenn was passed by the general as
sembly just adjourned by unanimous
vote in the senate and by a liberal
We're Senator Junius +. West and
Delegate Farke p, Deans. As ORR
ginaliy presented the bill called for
IAN appropriation of $65.0t0. This
was stricken cut, and amendment
adopted which provides:
That an amount not 10 exceed
one half OF the annual salary of each
physical director appointed in ac-
cordance With section one of this act
may be paid by the state board OF
education TO the local school trustees
employing such physical director.
ano an amount not TO exceed one
haif OF the annual salary OF each
nurse or physician appointed in ac-
cordance with section one OF this
act may be paid by the state board
of health TO the local school trustees
employing such nurse or physician"
Special appropriation was made
UNNECESSARY by inclusion in the
sadget Of 3 $4,000 increase in the
board of health's allowance Nor child
welfare and school medica. fnspec-
ton, and the ALLEGATION of nc TO ex-
coed $4,000 to physical education.
in the board of education's fund for
free public schools.
Summary of provisions:
state supervisor of physical ed
ucation
State aid for local school trustees
in employing school nurses and ply
sicians and physical directors
Requirement that all schools shall
provide for suitable physical exer-
cises and hygiene instruc ton, follow
ing medical and health inspections TO
ascertain physical status of pupils.
REQUIREMENT that all normal
schools have courses in physical
training and hygiene. and proven
tive medicine
Requirement. that. after September
1925. all teachers certificates show
satisfactory completion Of such
eourses~--this provision being subject
TO discretion OF board of education.
MANY DETECTIVES
Out of $1,000 virginians examin-
ed for military service during tho
draft IS per cent We're entirely re-
Iected. During the past year, under
the West act of 1918. the state board
of health arranged for school nedi-
cal inspections in as many counties
as practicable and found large ma
jorIty of children Especially in rural
sectionsl handicapped In their school
work 5.x+
eye and ear affections. diseased een-
sis. adenoids. malnutritio.. etc.
Many cases Of supposed mental de-
ticiency were traced TO the existence
of thes physical conditions There
fore, the need was apparent for ia
ciilties greatly TO expand the inspee-
ton work and TO follow il by proper
ly conducted remedial measures.
Most Of the arguments adduced in
favor OF military training arnly
equally TO physical education. but the
latter has marked advantages: mill
tary training takes boys In their late
teens. while the bin provides phy
steal development beginning as soon
as children start to school Military
training Is only for bows physical
education includes the girls. Military
training prepares primarily for war;
physical education lis a. prerequisite
T.
vides for the inevitable duties and
tasks of normal peaceful life. "A
sane mind is a sound body" is an
automatic ideal: this bill comes from
the newly recognized fact that
truly sane mind" can function prop
erly only when in a sound body"
The bill is endorsed hy Virginia ed
ncatien commission. state board OF
educa ton. state board of health, CO.
operative education aSsocia ton leEis~
lative committee of the state teach
ers' association and The national
physical Education service which, in
turn is the legislative organ OF over
twenty agencies such as the Ameri-
can Medical association. Child Con-
servation league. American Red
Cross. Boy Scouts. Girl Scouts, Y. NJ.
c. A. physical directors society.
Scool Hygiene association. etc.