The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-07-27

ARGUM ElNISS FOR
Den G q N]IlG s
econt.nn.d from an o.ss o e. 81;
a stop to the dental clinics at any
time they SO desire:
E$.sAfter numerous conferences
with the leading dentists through;
ont the county and after having
gone over all details of. the plan
t1e County Court decided upon e
levy Of cents on the 500 SValua.
ton. At the in creased property
assessments thatSwou1d raise sum
OF approximately $40, 900. eiS
Eat first thought this would
seem very large amount to be
spent in one particular depart:
ment. but when 1t is considered
that there are I39 school buildings
in the county, for all of which den.
tai equipment must be provided
the mater assumes a different as.
.peck
SIT has. been suggested that the
schools having the greater number
|of |, children enrolled would; BY
equipped with IA permanent dental
office and that several portable
|equipments,5s similar to those USED
in army camps would be provide ed
for the schools of smaller enrou-
ment- &c:
.sThe bin provides that all funds
shall be dispersed by the County
Court, who really have the e1ecu'
tiye power in all matters pertain.
ing to the Clinic It provides that
clinic director shall be employed
at a salary determined upon by the
County Court and that he shall isll
hire such assistants as are neces,
sary to carry on the work. It is
further provided that no dentist
who is working for the county elm.
ic either as director or assistant
can have any connection whateyer
with a private practice. This pro
vision prohibits; any dentists in the
county from using the clinic to fur.
Their his own private ends.
considered Model Law.
This bill was prepared in con.
sultation with several Fairmont at.
torneys, dentists and our local state
senators and members OF the House
of Delegates. It is model law In
every respect; nothing having been
omitted that would safeguard the
best interests of the people of Ma.
rion County.
.Tne amount Of the levy is very
small compared with the benefits
given. For instance, the levy will
only property owners taxes
go cents on the $1,000 valuation.
Thus the average valuation (Which
lis $4,000 will be raised only 80
lscents. It would cost the average
taxpayer less in taxes for the den.
tai work of all his children OF
school age than it would cost him
to have single tooth extracted
by reputable dentist.
There cam be no question that
the operation. Of the dental clinic
will eventually result In great
saving to. the taxpayer, aside from
the question of health and comfort
for the children. It is estimated
THAT at the present time 1t costs
the taxpayers $50 a year to keep
Ia child in the public schools. It
i has also been shown that 10 per
cent of the school children in Ma
rion County are retarded one year
during. their passage through the
| grades. These retarded children
under the present system costs ap
proximately four times as much as
lit would cost to keep them strong
land healthy, and graduate them 10
the regular time. 8t
SimiIarsin Mcdowell County.
"a similar law has been in forcs
in Mcdowell County for five years
/ For three years the levy for TIL
4 clinic was cents on the $100 val
/ nation and after three years opera
4 ton the taxpayers were SO salts
! fled with the measure that the bill
was amended to allow levy o.
10 cents on the 500 valuation ant
was passed without any opposition
Whatsoever. Reports from the Nc
Il Dowe11 Society dental clinic show
\ that Al per cent OF the pupils made
two extra grades in five years ant
SIS per cent made one extra grade
in five years. 1t also showed tina
4 communicable diseases was re
1 duced SIS per cent In a test class
of thirty. seven pupils In the May
berry School three years observa,
tion showed average gain in men
i tally of 1s9 per cent. These arr
quite startling figures, but can cas-
& lily be verified by addressing Thu
county superintendent Of school!
Of Mcdowell County or DR.. c.. 7
4 Epling, county director Of clinics.
School dental clinics original
ed in the schools of Cleveland
Ohio, under the direction of tn,
National Dental Association Ii
Il 1907. The report given in 1910 o
4 an experiment. class of twenty
: seven children under the direction
Of Miss Cordelia L. O'NeilI,S princi
: pal of the Marion School, Cleye
LAND, Ohio, showed an average 0
!, 1888 per cent progress over ami
I above the average. progress mad
! by the rest Of the pupils in tn:
same school. The experim enta
i, class was chosen at random from
!. all grades. AZ ~
"a survey recently made by :
!. Representative Of the United States
4 Bureau of Health shows thelfo1low
!, ing interesting estimate concernin.
/ Eschool children In West Virgini;
y and the diseases from which the!
Il suffer Tub ercl1o II, 200, de-
90 Il Y n m Sss ofooftvf