Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1922-03-23
SCHOOL OFFICERS MEET
Fine Program Given In the Court
4. Room

Room
The Dickinson County School OH
GERS Association held its annual
meeting at the court house. COM
mencing at 1890. There was a fine
program, including an address by
Prof. G. T.. Rarick Of the Kansas
school Code Commission, who gave
talk of much interest to the asso-
citation. Music was furnished by the
SOLEMN school band directed by Miss
Esther Burnham of Abilene to whom
its work In credit. Others on the
program included Fritz Kugler, Chas.
Arey, Il. Il. Bert, Rev. o. II. Feiler,
Mrs McMindes and J. ] Haldeman,
all Of Dickinson county.
Perhaps the most interesting talk
Of the session was by DR.. f. l.. Gar
rett who discussed 1.-THE Why OF
Dental Inspection" taking up the
problem met in opposition Of some
parents to the school inspection
made by the dentists Of the county
under the direction Of the county
physician. He said: "There can be
no doubt Of its value in the minds
OF those who are familiar with the
work. In the first place, the rela-
ton of teeth to the general health
Of the individual has been proven
without question. And while undue
stress has been laid on the teeth ana
mouth as exciting causes OF diseases
yet enough positive proof has been
gathered to definitely establish such
relationship in large per cent OF
certain types Of diseases. Case arter
case might be cited.
"The men who conducted the nrst
school examination found a large per
cent Of the children OF school age
had decayed or irregular teeth. dental
abscesses, or other diseased cOndi-
lions Of the mouth. Many Of the par
ents had no knowledge Of such con-
-ditiOns, and when their attention was
called to It, they Mt once took steps
TO have such conditions corrected.
He called attention to the influence
of teeth on the child's health ana
on brain development and balance
and described the sequence OF the
teeth's growth and why they should
he watched In the child. "The nee
essity for school inspection lies In
the fact that so many parents 40
not know the condition Of the mouth
and teeth Of their children ana 40
not or did not at any rate, realize
the possible effect such conditions
might have on the child's physical,
mental and moral development. the
object Of such inspection Is to first
call attention Of the parents to such
conditions when they exist, ana 10
advise them to have them corrected.
Also to educate the children ana
through them the parents to reali-
zation of the importance Of healthy
mouth
Has 1t Proved Itself
"In our own county we have no
statistics to present, but the exper-
fence of every dentist In the county
ia that each year he finds that a
larger per cent of the children In
spected have clean, healthy mouths,
and the number that show no dental
care whatever very materially de-
creased. In other places, notably
some of the larger cities, statistics
have been compiled which show In
n large per cent Of cases an increase
In the health and mental development
OF the child when the mouth Is kept
in a healthful condition"
Up to the Parents
The speaker put the matter square
ly up to the parents: "As a physi-
cian-and | claim the right to so
consider myself In larger sense
/ can give you no advice except that
the best way to cure disease Is to
prevent 1t. In order to prevent dis
ease, the causes which lead to 1t II
not corrected, should be removed
early. and that only can be done In
the individual by people submitting
themselves regularly to some form
of medical and dental inspection.
That Of course is impossible now, but
n step in that direction IL to care
fully watch the health and bodily
development of the child while 1t Is
in school so that when its school
days are over, 1t may start LIES bat
ties with the largest measure OF
health and vitality possible.
'Paternalism in government Is
perhaps to be deplored, and there
is line beyond which we may not
safely go, but that is for the people
Themselves to decide. Considering
medical and dental inspection apart,
IL you value what you are pleased to
call your personal liberty above the
good health Of your children. you
should be against 1t. But so long as
the state continues 1t, It will have
In the future as 1t has had In the
past, the unselfish cooperation OF
both the medical and dental profess
sions."