The Washington times., 1922-06-18
HE watchword OF the day, as
exemplified by almost every

|" HE watchword Of the day. as
exemplified by almost every
u prominent movement, from
the Washington disarmament con-
ference to the Volstead act, is
prevention.
No longer are we content to let
something serious happen before
we begin to get busy; to use mild
Hibernicism. we try to put a stop
to 1t before 1t starts. and as early
in the game as we possibly can.
OF late years there has been a
wonderful growth and spread Of
health work In the schools; school
doctors, school nurses, school
clinics and the like.
But this Is now throwing into
sharp relief the urgent necessity
and importance Of looking into the
childs home surroundings and
taking q keen interest in his entire
well-being, in addition to curing
him Of any specific ailments or
defects.
COSTLY BUT VALUABLE.
All this costs money. as q few
crusty old taxpayers are always
ready to testify with wrathful
fluency, but It is the best possible
investment that the community
can make.
The surest way to obtain the
maximum return on. taxes in
vested in the upkeep Of well paii.
well organised school system is to
see that every pupil II In topnotch
condition physically.
Thus he can devote all his uttenr
ton to his studies. and not be con-
stantly harassed by some ache or
pain, to the serious detrtment OF
his work.
The value of periodical physical
examinations In the schools has
been recognized for years. and
many cases Of "baclwardness."
"dullness. bad temper" and "in-
attention to studies" have been
traced to some small but constant
physical discomfort. such as eye
strain, sarache. adenoids. or fallen
arches. and when located have
been promptly cured.
But there In no real reason why
we should walt until . child POS
sessing some slight defeot actually
enters school before We begin to
overhaul him, p.
The earlier Q defect can Be cor
rected. the more trouble and per-
manent injury the child is saved.
The value Of q correction IL In ex-
actly inverse ratio to the age at
which 1t In applied.
PRE-CORRECTION PLAN.
Acting upon this principle. .
number of 'pre-school" prepara-
ton courses have been arranged
in some of the larger cities, with
most gratifying results-
The plan, as the name indi.
Gates. was to begin in the early
spring and pick out the children
who were to enter school for the
first time In the coming fall.
They were then thoroughly ex-
amined Just es their elder brothers
and sisters would be when they re-
turned to their studies in Sep
tember.
II any minor defects were
found an individual plan for their
correction in each case was work
ed out with and through the
family physician or school or
other public clinic and given to
their parents. who were. Of
course, free to follow II or not
as they pleased. =
In most cases. to their credit be
II said, the plan was carried out
most conscientiously. despite the
fact that many Of them were Of for
eign extraction and unfamiliar
with the local clinics. and the re-
suits obtained were well worth an
the trouble taken.
SOME DEFECTS FOUND.
Malnutrition. under weight. poor
appetite. and loss Of energy were
generally the outward signs Of
trouble, but the original cause
might be any one OF = dozen things
--or all Of them In combination.
Commonest were, Of course.
those invisible brakes and drass
on growth and development.
adenoids. with mouth breathing,
swollen tonsfis, eyestrain. decayed
teeth and abscssses Of the gums.
fallen arches OF the feet, chronic
indigestion. etc.. while the less
common causes Of trouble were
widely scattered. ~.
But none had q monopoly Of
the field. The total number Of
defects In one small child might
he alnoat an startling An his Inn