The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-03-17
CITY'S CHILDREN
UNDER STANDARD

! LeacnefS OF CnaC Scn0Ol curing the
past 10 days have devoted consider
able time and energy in carrying out
a physical survey of the pupils en-
rolled The results of this examin-
alton, partial though it may be, will
surprise many Of the parents who
have considered their children as
entirely normal.
Through the activities Of the Jun
Tor Red Cross the school has been
presented with a pair of the most
approved and accurate scales and a
measuring rod. In carrying out this
survey, each child was weighed with
out shoes, coats, sweaters, and his
heigth was recorded. The basic fig
ures for this survey were furnished
by the United States government,
Department of the Interior. Bureau
of Education, and the survey vas
carried out along standard lines
used in other cities throughout the
country. In the tables below will be
seen a comparison of percentages
with the city of Washington, D. G.,
where similar survey has recently
been completed, based on the same
system of examinations and records.
That more than two-thirds Of the
children in school are under normal
in physical development will come as
a shock to parents, but actual fig
ures show that 500 per cent. Of the
pupils examined are under the cor
rect standard. Those who are over
normal register 24.1 per cent. Those
exactly normal show a percentage of
6 per cent. The children who are 10
| per cent, or more under normal
show 24.3 and those who are 10 per
cent. or more over normal show 7.3
In any truly civilized country as
rich and intelligent as our own it
ought to be difficult to discover oven
dozen children developing into
manhood or womanhood under the
handicap Of even a single remediable
physical defect. We all know per-
fectly well the physical and mental
development of an otherwise healthy
child But in spite of all our talk
concerning the precious asset of child
health, such defects are so common
that nobody has ever taken the
trouble to find out exactly to what
extent they prevail among children
today. It is estimated by the best
authorities that three out of every
four children in this country suffer
from some physical defect which
might be prevented or corrected. This
means that there are. perhaps, 49,
100000 such school children in this
country today.
Every one of these children, handi-
capped however slightly by some
physical defect, is failing to attain
quite the physical and intellectual de-
velopment of which he is capable.
When weighed and measured these
children will be just a little below
standard, Moreover, of these 49,
100000 handicapped children there is
a large group, estimated at possibly
100000, who are in such bad 3hy-
steal condition and who fall so de-
cidedly below the normal standard
Of weight for their age and height
that their condition demands immedi-
ate recognition and attention. From
one cause or another everv member
of this great group of children is
suffering not merely from one. but
from many physical defects. They
constitute the Glass of ''malnourished"
children, whose great number is a
shame of our civilization.
1t is desirable that all of the
children suffering from any serious
| physical defect whatever should have
medical attention, AS an emergency
measure, however, we should give
consideration, first of all, to that
great group Of under-nourished chill
dren whose condition is strikingly
below par.
Malnutrition is definite departure
from health which should be recog-
nized as much as tuberculosis. 1t has
certain definite causes and definite
after effects. Moreover. some of
these after effects can never be en-
tirely overcome. An adult NAV be
underfed for a long period without
any serious result, but the child who
suffers from serious malnutrition
may never be strong and
capable as he mioht have been. NAL
nutrition is something which in the
great majority Of cases is prevent
able and durable. It's detection re-
quires no expert medical knowledge
or careful microscopic examinations.
The weight of the child and his rate
of gain usually tell the story.
In the best regulated families the
baby is regularly weighed every
week, and great is the concern of
those interested if he does not gain
his standard four to six ounces a
week. 1t is a sad commentary on
our health methods that we have
so carefully weighed the baby, but
allowed the runabout and the school
child to 20 with little or no attention
in this respect.
The malnourished child is always
underweight. One may class every
child who is as much as 10 per cent
underweight for his height as NAL
nourished or undernourished child
Such children are usually pale and
anaemic, inattentive, listless in their
studies and disinclined to run and
play. They are easily fatigued. both
mentally and physically, and are
often retarded in their school work
The malnourished child is peculiarly
susceptible to disease, he is always
catching whatever disease happens to
be making the rounds. His muscles
are soft and flabby.
What folly to attempt to force
such a child through the regular mill