The Cordova daily times., 1922-06-13
LOOKING AFTER HEALTH SCHOOL
 CHILDREN

A movement to make the present school commencement season mark a forward step in education is under way here and in many other represen- tative cities of the country. A request made by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States for information as to what is being done for health and for physical education in the local schools has just come to the Cordova Chamber of Commerce. The National Chamber is obtaining this information from 800 cities to determine what physical preparation is being given to those who later will bear the business and industrial burdens of the nation.
 In the pamphlet which accompanies these questions, these statements are made.
 "The conservation of health is al great economic problem challenging the best thought in America today. The business world has much at stake in the development of a citzenry which is physically fit.
 "There are approximately 22,000000 school children in the United States. A large majority of these have rem ediable defects such as deafness, mal- nutrition, decayed teeth, poor eyesight, inciDient tuberculosis
 "In order to promote the physical well-being of all the people proper system of physical examinations and health instruction must be universal Iy carried on in the various grades Of the schools. About one-half of the children leave school before they are sixteen years of age and yet most of the health instruction has been re- served for high school and college students.
 "The purpose of health education must be established habits, not to ac- cumulate facts. It does the child with the twisted back no good to commit to memory the names of the bones of the body; nor the malnourished child to recite the stages of digestion.
 Physical education presents the greatest opportunity the nation has of developing national power. Health instruction is the most vital part of the child's education. Are the schools of your city giving health education to all the children or are they gradu- ating invalids?
 "In cities where the medical in spection is properly organized, the physicians have done incstimabie good by pointing out removable defects which were interfering with the prog ress of the children in the school; by preventing epidemics; by bringing about improvements in school equip ment which make the environment more healthful; by starting. right habits of thought and action concern ing health.
 "The work of the school physician is of little avail if there are no schoot nurses to follow up his work. The Thvsician finds the defects in the child, the school nurse follows the case through and sees the defects are reme- died. She is the liason officer be- tween the medical inspector, the school teacher and the parents.
 "A physical education system when develops eleven players and thous- and spectators will never go far in raising the physical efficiency of our cities. The one thousand must par ticipate. Those who are weak and physically defective most of alt"
 Among the question on which the National Chamber wishes to get in formation are the following:
 "Are all children given a medical examination upon their admission t the schools?
 Are they inspected regularly TOT defects and incipient illness?