Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-19
75PERCENT OF
STATESCHOOLS
UNFIT HURTY
Small Ratio of Buildings Con-
form to Sanitary Law
of 1919.
SICKNESS PREVALENT
BY, KATHLEEN MKEE.

By KATHLEEN MKEE.
Only twenty five per cent of the 1855
grade school buildings in the state are
strictly hygienic, according to DR.. J.
n. Hurry, secretary OF the state board
Of health.
There were 77S,7s6 school children
housed in S,032 school buildings in the
state during the, year 1919" said Dr..
Hurry.
"of the 1855 grade school buildings
in the state, 1900 are the old, insanitary,
one-room frame or brick buildings.
About 20 per cent of the SAT consoli-
dated schools are new and sanitary
buildings built according to the san
itary school law of 1911, according to DR..
Hurry.
THE instruction on the whole is good
said DR.. Hurry, but we all know, as the
educational leaders have publicly stated,
that it is not what 1t should be.
1.-THE majority of the teachers are not
professionals" he continued.
DR.. Hurry declared that teaching is
more of a science than either medical
or legal professions.
Il visited a country school recently"
he said, where, coming in close con-
tact with the other children, was
girl who was absolutely insane.
teachers should not be employed who
are that inefficient"
The number of school children in the
state also represents the number Of
cases of sickness which occur in the
schools, in the opinion Of DR.. Hurry.
Not a single pupil can be found"
he said, who does not complain OF
some mild or severe Physical ailment
during the year.
DR.. Hurry declared that decayed teeth
are the cause OF much sickness, saying
that not less than so per cent are found
upon examination, to have many or few
decayed teeth.
1.-The public health officer is discour-
aged in his work In trying to raise the
public health standard" said DR.. Hurry
when he makes medical inspection OF
school children"
Defective vision, deafness, eczema an6
obstruction in breathing such as dis
eased tonsils and enlarged adnolds, were
cited by DIR. Hurry as the most common
evils with which the health board has to
contend.
The conditions I have found in some
rural schools are horrible" declared DR..
Hurry.
"A short time ago ! visited school
where two children who had advanced
cases Of scarlet fever were attending
school
THE health board has found that not
less than so per cent OF these country and
small town schools are insuficiently ven
tilated In the winter time.
Then, many schools do not provide
proper Fairgrounds for the children, and
a schoolhouse without a playground Is
an abomination." be declared.
These discouraging conditions are
slowly passing through the efforts Of the
state board during the last seven years.
Twenty million dollars has been In
vested in new school houses. but in most
districts the school authorities and the
parents laugh az the idea OF medical in
spection and proper physical care Of their
children.
THE vast majority OF our small towns
and cities and rural districts have very
poor facilities"
/ DR.. Hurry said that the child living in
1 these localities IS sewed up for tbs win
I ter, since the belief prevails that use
/ OF water viii cause colds.
1.-THE decisions OF these people and Of
Others" he said. will evidently prevail
for a lsng tims.'