Newark post., 1920-12-29
NINETY PERCENT
OF RURAL CHILDREN
PHYSICALLY DEFECTIVE
Finding of Examination Show
Examinations Show Vital
Need of Supervision
During School Years

Physical examination of school
children has been going on
rapidly since the opening of the
school year and the examinations
in many communities are now
completed.
At the beginning of the school
year twenty physicians were en-
gagged to devote a part of their
time to the school work. They
have agreed to do a complete
physical examination of the
school children in their districa
and to do what they can to control
communicable diseases in the
schools. While most of these
physicians are paid small sum
to do this work, the amount is in
no way commensurate with the
services given. They have done
this work because they realized
the amount of good that can be
done for the school children by
carrying out the program which
has been laid down by the State
Board of Education.
The figures so far obtained on
the number of physically defec-
tive children in the schools bear
out the findings of last spring at
which time approximately 1000
children were examined. That is
to say, about 80 per cent of the
school children in rural Delaware
are found to have some physical
! defect. Most of these could be
easily remedied if treatment is
undertaken Immediately.
| Up to date, Marshallton, Rich
ardson Park, Milford, and Newark
schools have been completed, and
Harrington, Bridgeville and Mid
dletown schools are practically
I so. 1t is, found that about rs per-
cent of the children are suffering
, from defective teeth, 20 per cent
! from defective vision, 25 per cent
, from enlarged tonsils and ade.
, noids and a large percentage Of
y other less common defects.
/ This work is at present being
! carried on without any suppor
from the State Board of Educa
ton. The services of all the doc
tors and nurses are financed b,
< private organizations. The work
Il however, cannot be carried on be
: yond July 1, 1921, without tn,
: support of State funds. 1t d
t hoped that such support will b.
K rendered i'm order that the plan
! of the State Board of Education
!. for the welfare of the schoo
children may be carried out.
These plans include complet
physical examination for ever.
0 child once a year, and the remedy
: ing of defects found as rapidly a
possible. Whenever a defect j
i found the parents of the child il
= whom such defect is found ar
e notified, and they are advised t,
: consult their family physician
!, dentist, or oculist, as the cas-
d may be. If the parents do no
: heed this, the nurse will do
l follow up" visit and urge upol
S the parents the necessity for hav
s ing the necessary remedial meas
: ures taken.
d Necessity for such services j,
e the schools was fully demonstrat
r ed i'm the draft examinations dur
i. ing the late war, in which 25 pc
$ cent of all the young men wh
d were examined We're found Ito b
physically defective. 1t was est:
2, mated that SO per cent of thes
y would have been physically fit
2, steps had been taken to- remed
= their defects during their schot
a years.
These figures show the ver
n real necessity for compled
le supervision of the school chill
N during his school years.