Evening star., 1923-05-03
Physical Test for d. C.. School
Children Approued by Board
Paw for Increase in Medical Staff and
Aid of Health Agencies to Be
Sought by Officials.

Thorough physical examination or
every child entering the histrlct
public schools with subsequent eXaml-
nations each year thereafter. plan
advocated by the health committee oil
the Washington Council of Social
Agencies, was approved yesterday
afternoon by the board of education.
An increase in the size of the school
medical staff and other provisions
necessary for the adoption OF such
a health program. will be sought by
the board in the budget for the next
fiscal year. provided support of social
service agencies and other bodies can
be obtained. steps to enlist the sup
port and cooperation of these or
EaniLations soon will be taken by
the board
Need Larger Force.
Consideration of the plan was given
by the board. following the reading
of communication from the health
committee of the council of social
agencies, in which attention was
called to the fact that the medical
staff of the schools is undermanned
and underpaid. Supt. Frank w. Bal
lou agreed that If the schools nope
TO progress in medical inspection they
must have greatly enlarged force
of physicians and nurses. He said
however. that he did not think 1t ad-
risable to seek larger appropriations
for the medical department unless
the assistance and support of social
service and other agencies could be
obtained.
Cost of the construction Of school
buildings i'll Washington. Supt. Ballou
informed the board. is appreciably
higher than year ago. The cost. ne
said is lower than il was two or three
years ago. He pointed out that the
John Burroughs School, an eight
room building, erected several years
was awarded recently for the con-
struction Of an eight-room school
at 18th and Newton streets. to cost
$139.300
The superintendent also advised the
board that virtually all property
needed for the proposed addition to
the Armstrong High School had been
acquired by the Commissioners. Plans
for the annex, hA said. will be COM
pleted shortly.
Adopt New Books.
The board. upon recommendation OF
Dr.. Ballou. adopted several new sci
ence books for use in the high schools
tinuance of few books now in use
The rew books adopted are: New
Essentials of Biology" revised. by
Hunter: a First Book in Chemistry.
by r. H. Bradbury: "Practical Chem
istry." by l.. c. Newell apd General
Science" by Caldwell and Eikenberry
The books ordered discontinued fol-
low: 'Essentials of Biology" by
Hunter; Elementary Study Of Chem
istry." by Mcpherson and Henderson
First Year Science" by Snyder: "EIe-
mentary Physical Geography" by
Salisbury. and Elementary PhySiog-
raphy," by Salisbury.
An echo from the recent public
hearing on Muzzey's American history
text book was heard when Secretary
Harry @. Hine read a telegram sent
hy Wallace MrCamant of Oregon to
Rear Admiral George w. Baird in ref
erence to his statement at the hear
ing. Admiral Baird. who spoke in
favor Of ihe retention of Prof Muz-
zey's book ir the high school his
tory course. said he had been ad
vfsed that McCanlant regretted his
attacks upon the book. The tele-
gram read:
81 have wire to the effect that