Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-07
MAY TRY SCH|CK
METHOD HERE
School Board Discusses New
Test to Prevent Diphtheria
Among Pupils

Considerable time was devoted to
la further discussion of the advisa-
lbility of initiating the Schick meth
Iod Of preventing diphtheria in the
public schools Of. this city, at the
Injecting of the Board of Education
last night. 1t was finally decided
that slips should be printed and sent
Ito the parents of all children for
the purpose of securing their con-
sent or disapproval of the test being
lapplied to their children. When
these slips have been returned and
1.-THE school board knows how many
Iare in favor Of using this method of
preventing diphtheria, further steps
will be decided upon.
Prior to sending these slips to the
parents. however, 1t was suggested
that DIR. Charles l.. SILK, president
of the local Board of Health be re-
lquested to address all of the teach
ers of the city on the subject of the
lSchick test in order that they might
be familiar with the subject and in a
position to explain clearly to all OF
the pupils just what it is and what
benefits are to be derived from 1t.
THE children will then be expected
to carry on this educational Informal
Ition to their parents in order to
dC4uaAAll LtAtih WIN ~ ~
the treatment.
DR.. Silk was ! fore the school
board at a meeting held several
| weeks ago. during which time he
explained the Schick test and re-
| quested the school board to rave the
| school children treated under this
system so as to prevent spread OF
| diphtheria- The health board, DR..
Silk said, would pay for material
used, costing about 25 cents per pu-
pill. The school board was asked
to arrange with doctors to give the
| tests and conduct the follow-up sys-
tenn which consists in keeping rec
| ords of the results and effects OF
each innoculation.
In New York City it was pointed
out at the meeting. the Schick test
| was given to 100. 200 pupils. not n
of whom contracted d~iphtheria fol-
lowing the innoculations. In Metu-
chen, it was said. the system is re-
ported to have been a big success.
In putting the Schick test into
use the pupil is given an i~nnocula-
ton. II examination of the arm by
the doctor a few days after this
diphtheria no further in~noculations
are made. II. however, the exami-
nation shows that the pupil is sus-
ceptible to the disease then three
more innoculations are given at in
tervals of one week each. A final
test is then made six months after
the last innoculation. A person thus
innoculated is immune from diph-
iberia for the rest of his or her life,
it is claimed.
The school board members and
Superintendent S. l.. Shull were
unanimous in approving the idea and
an effort will be made to acquaint
the parents of all pupils with the
facts concerning the Schick test. The
innoculations do not cause any sick
ness or i'll effects on the pupils, doc
tors say. and therefore the pupils
lose no classes as the result of being
innoculated. The test has never been
known to fail, II was said last night.
Applications for positions as jan
itor were received from William H.
Maguiness, Of 220 Brighton avenue;
A. J.. Moiles. of SO Pearl place. and
Charles Sandback, of $50 Compton
avenue, all of which were filed.
1t was decided to conduct an in
spection of certain of the schools
Monday afternoon at 5 O'Clock prior
20 paying the balances OF several
hills for construction and repairs.
Friday. June 23, was decided upon
as the night for the commencement
exercises this year. Superintendent
Shull suggested that immediate
steps be taken to secure a speaker
for this occasion, and this was ap-
proved
The board acted f~avorably upon
the idea of local teachers exchang-
ing with Oakland, California, teach
ers. Superintendent Shull reported
that four Oakland teachers desired
to exchange with Perth Amboy
teachers, but none of the local teach
ers had yet requested exchange per-
mission.
The purchase OF reference books,
amounting to about 5000. taking in
a list OF hooks selected by Superin-
tendent Shull and approved by the
State Department of Education for
high schools, was authorized. This
step was made necessary in order
that Ale local high school might re-
main on the state approved list. An
inventory of high school Libraries
will he taken next fall and the re-
suits of this inspection viii be an
important factor in determining the
state approval of high schools.
A complete radiophone apparatus
for the use of the science depart
ment was recommended by Superin-
tendent Shull and the purchase of
an outfit to cost in the neighbour
hood of $3.50 was authorized.
The secretary was authorized to
advertise for bids for about forty
five window shades to be received
April IT, at a special meeting. The
building committee was empowered
the high school lawn properly
to take the necessary action to have
graded in front of the new addition
The average attendance in the
public schools of this city during
March was 80 higher than ever be-
fore in the history of the city. ac-
cording to a report made by Su-
p~erintendent Shull. The attend
ance was 7,037.02 and the enroll
ment 1929. Another feature of the
report was the fact that SAB citizens
visited the schools during the month
this showing an increased interest
on the part of the parents in their
cshildren's school work.