Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-08-28
PREPARE YOUR CHILD
!. FOR SCHOOL DUTIES
Opening Of Schools Demand Care
full Attention To The Physical
-.at Condition OF Children

If your small son or daughter is
going to enter sdhool this fall, don't
wait until Mary comes home from
school with a heartache or Johnny has
toothache to find out that one of
them has eyes that need attention, or
unhealthy tonsils, and the other has
decayed teeth. Take them to your
doctor, have them looked over-just
as you would have your automobile
inspected if you were going on long
itrip-and follow. your doctors advice
as to whatever attention is needed.
Take them to dentist, or if neces-
sary to the throat specialist. AS there
are only a few days remaining before
the schools open, you'd better take
them today, is the advice of DR.. ]. HI.
NJ. Knox, Jr., chief of the State Bu-
reau of Child Hygiene.
"Every child looks forward to the
beginning of school life with mingled
feelings of dread and pleasure DR..
Kox said. parents realize, too, that
when their small son or daughter
reaches school age, an important per-
iod in the child's life is begun. The
success or failure in after years de-
pends great deal on how the child
makes use Of the educational oppor-
tunities that are offered. He has ev-
lery chance to make good at school if
he is well and fit. He is always han
dicapped if he is not well. And the
time to find out about his physical
condition is before he starts in to
school.
"From the examinations Of the pro-
spective first-graders that the Bureau
has been making throughout the coun-
ties during the summer, and in con-
lnection with which over thirty-five
hundred children have been carefully
gone over, it is evident that many
children throughout the State will en-
ter school at definite disadvantage
as compared with their healthier COM
rades. Some have greatly enlarged
tonsils and adenoid growths in their
throats, which partly obstruct the
passage Of air, makig them more
susceptible to cold and bronchitis.
"Others are underweight for their
age and height. Children in this con-
dition often drag along in the rear Of
the procession of school children.
Many have decayed teeth and accord
Iingly cannot masticate their food
properly. They are likely to have a
poor appetite and until the condition
is corrected they cannot thrive.
STOPPED posture is not uncommon
even among small children and is an
other symptom that the child is un-
der par. It is not uncommon even a.
mon, either, to find defects of vision
or impaired hearing among young
children, defects which should not be
allowed to go uncorrected, as often
is done, on the theory that children
will outgrow them. The ounce of pre-
lvention at this stage of the child's
, life may save a great deal of suffer-
| ing later on. Certainly much of a
child's progress during the whole of
Ibis school life depends on the normal
functioning of his eyes and ears.
"The responsibility rests with the
parents. Every child should be taken
to the family doctor before he is en-
rolled in school and the following
questions should be asked:-
| 1. Is my child up to the standard
in weight and height for his age?
2. Are his tonsils or adenoids en-
larged or infected so as to be danger
Gus?
8. Are his teeth in good condition?
| A. Are his vision and hearing nor
NAL? .t
S. Is his posture correct? Does he
stand and sit and walk correctly?
| 6. Is the food my child eats, proper
| in kind and amount?
~"Unless the doctor assures you that
these questions can be answered sat-
isfactorily your child is beginning
his educational career handicapped.
If you were planning long trip you
would have your car put in good or
der. Should you not be equally care
full of your child before he begins his
long journey?"
NeuU Principal Arrives
The newly elected principal of the