The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1920-12-21
HEAL LTHS PARTMENr OF
LOCAL SCHOOLS ACTIVE

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"The well being Of the state is as
much dependent upon the strength,
health, and productive capacity OF its
members as it is upon their knowl-
edge and intelligence. In order that
it4may insure the efficiency of its
citizens, the state, through its COM
spulsory education enactments, re-
quires its youth to pursue certain stu
dies which experience has proved
necessary to secure that efficiency.
Individual efficiency, however, rests
not alone on education or intelligence
but is equally dependent on physical
health and vigor."-Ayres.
, It is. then one Of the duties Of the
school to see that the health of each
student is considered, hence the health
department.
The late war was brought home to
the people of these United States the
need of we'll directed health habits
in the early years of the youth OF
the" country. This advise the health
department of the Bemidji public
school aims to give.
The department works to promote
health in every possible way. 1t
works to prevent disease, to promote
cleanliness of mind and body; it calls
parents attention to physical defects
in the child; it works to keep up at
tendance by investigating absences
and consulting the parents.
Weekly inspections of the children
ck,,lnnt r0ooiuoc
physical examination during the
year and more if necessary. The
needy are aided by calling special
cases to the attention of the county
commissioners, Salvation Army, Child
Welfare committee, etc.
Children of school age not enrolled
in the public schools are investigated,
when these absences are found to pc
from physical causes, means are tax
en- to remedy the condition.
This year health campaign con-
tinuing for fifteen weeks is being con-
, Quoted through all the grades below
THE eighth.
The object of this is to get the
child into correct habits Of living. Be-
low are the statements which the
child must answer and keep record
Of:
l washed my hands before each
meal. l also cleaned my finger nails
today. ,
I did not cough or sneeze without
covering my nose and mouth with
my handkerchief.
+ brushed my teeth thoroughly.
tried to keep fingers, pencils and
everything unclean out of my mouth
and nose.
played out of doors or with win
dows open thirty minutes. .
I was in bed ten hours or more last
night and kept my windows open.
I tried today to sit and stand
straight, to eat slowly, and to attend
to toilet at a regular time.
drank a cup of milk.
drank no tea or coffee.
/ ate a dish of cooked breakfast
food.
/ ate at least one vegetable besides
potatoes.
took a full bath on every day Of
the week that is checked X.
It is planned during the year that
the Parent-Teachers' association,
which has recently been organized,
take up for consideration the ques-
ton OF baths in the several buildings,
hot lunches for children that cannot
get home at noon, and physical train
ing for all pupils.
4. In consideration of the health of
the school children, the questions be-
low give an idea Of some of the con-
ditions looked into by the health de-
partment.
How many children have a good
deal of headache? How many chill
dren have a good deal Of earache ?
How many children have good deal
of sore throat often? How many
children have a good deal of tooth
ache? How many children have been
to a dentist? How many children
have their own tooth brushes? How
many children use tooth brush ev.
cry day? How many children sleep
with their windows open sum-
mer and winter? How many chill
dren drink tea and coffee? How
many children eat breakfast every
day? How many children have 9
weekly bath?
Why are school children failures
The departments feel quite Justified
in saying that many of these fail
ures ara due to some physical defect
CITY CHURCHES HOLD SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS SUNDAY
A number of he city churches gave
special musical programs in connec'
tion with their hristmas sermons
which were delivered by the different
pastors on Sunday.
In the presbyterian church specia
musical programs were given botl
,,,nrninor mud araninu hv a choir O.