The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-10-19
TheCOSTofSickness
School Nurse to the Parents
TO THE PARENTS:

TO THE PARENTS:
Reports of the weight of school
children are to be sent to the homes
with the report cards. An effort is
being made to get children interested
in their own health habits and
growth and to find out which child
rem are definitely under weight and
so need special attention. 1t is
desirable that the parents know more
about just what the schools are
trying to do and the significance to
be attached to underweight as an
indication of the health conditions.
conditions.
There has been prepared by Or.
Thomas D. Wood, of Columbia Univ
ersity, one table for boys and one for
girls, showing the average weight for
each height of each age from 8 to IL
To be slightly underweight means
nothing but for your boy or girl to
be as much as per cent OF the
average weight, underweight means
that careful inquiry should be
made by his parents To determine
whether or not there are other evil
dences of under nourishmem and
|
sibility is not met simply by taking
the child to the physician 1t means
also careful attention to the formation
correct health habits in the home.
The child within the margin OF
safety Is per cent above or per cent
below the average weight should be
assured of his success physically
and should be encouraged to main
tain 1t. Those below this per cent
J range should be stimulated to form
better health habits and so to gain
steadily In weight. Growth and
good health habits are fundamentals
and are far more important in his
life than simply the ehild's progress
= In the traditional school subjects.
In every case success and gain are
to be emphasized; not failure and
underweight. All the children are
working toward the goal of greater
strength and beauty-some to main
tain. others to gain.
Let us suppose that the day is
near when all school officials and
teachers will place health as the
highest ideal in education.
We ask your cooperation along
the line OF health habits we are trying
to teach the health inspection question
OF the Skowhegan Health club that
are asked your children each morning
and that he Is supposed to live up to,
are as follows:
/. Did you brush your teeth last
night and this morning? 2. Are your
finger nails clean, 3. Did you wash
; your face hands. neck and ears before
before each meal yesterday? 4. Did
you sleep. with your window open
8. Did yoti drink four glasses of water
yesterday. 8. Did you drink some
milk yesterday but not coffee? 7. Did
you try to sit. stand and walk
correctly s. Did you keep your desk
and surroundings in good order
yesterday? o. Did you do at least
, one helpful deed yesterday? 10.
: Have you clean handkerchief or its
substitute a clean piece of cloth?
II there Is no other important
evidence of undernouriShment than
underweight, this condition may
sometimes be family characteristic
or vice characteristic. The schools
are trying to call to special at
tention your childs underdeight
where 1t amounts to more than per
cent of the average for children OF
his height, and they are also assuring
you of your success in your childs
physical development
II your child is not over Is per cent
above average weight it is not an
indication that need give you concern
AS one teacher said at is money in
the bank" A reasonable percentage
: of overweight as the child approaches
adolescence is considered physical
advantage II such overweight is not
due to soft, fiabby fat and wrong
health habits.
Mid morning luncheons at school
are strong factor in bringing about
good health conditions. 1t is inter
esting to see many children who dc
I not like milk at home take it at school
with no objections, thus the influence
OF the group. 1t is also interesting
to see the change in attitude towards
"eating between meals Many child
rem do not get enough food by eating
only three times day. They do moi
eat enough at one time; they do moi
want 1t.
Conferences are invited with par
ents who wish to discuss the new trenc
in health education. All parents will
find the pamphlets issued by the Unit
ed States Bureau of Education, Wash
ington, d. c.. helpful. Many of these
are free; others can be purchased from
! the Superintendent of Documents
Washington. d. c.
IrU- DApKEp n