Evening star., 1926-09-26
j.. Continued from First PageD

Continued from First Page)
the school Is interested in health work
is that it wishes to reduce the amount
OF absence on account Of illness, for
If child is absent for l month out
Of 10 his school year Is equivalent
to only 9 months. Regularity has
been found TO have much to do with
school progress" DR.. Rogers stressed
the Importance Of co-operat ton be-
tween parents and teachers i'm the
health work Of the schools.
Discussing the Importance OF exam
lining the child for any physical de
fects he may have. the doctor says.
! in part
"A child is Infinitely the most com
plica ted, as he IS the most valuable,
machine in the world. and it is a
simple matter Of economy to have
him looked over periodically. say, on
his birthday. to see that he has no
defective parts, and that he is rightly
cared for, just as one would do with
such a comparative trif1e as $4,000
automobile. Much. OF the physical ex-
mination Of school children can be
done with advantage by trained teach
ers or by nurses under the super
| vision Of the school physician. In
| fact. the teacher who does not know
whether the child under her care sees
, or hears or breathes or otherwise be-
! haves normally will, at no distant
j date, be considered as incompetent
and absurd as a seamstress who does
not know whether her scissors are
sharp. or a professional musician who
does not know whether his instrument
| is in tune We are no longer at
tempting in school to direct the prog
ress of bodiless minds"
Parents Should Query Selves.
! Some of the questions which parents
should ask themselves about their
child, according to DR.. Rogers, are
these: rs he growing" rs he well
nourished?" Does he droop?" Does
he limp" Are his eyes right" Can
| he hear well?" is his skin clear?'
Does he breathe through his nose?'
Has he good teeth?" His throat
should be examined regularly for signs
of disease, his face and lips questioned
daily. not only for evidence Of the Use
| Of soap and water but for the unusual
! flush that may mean fever. the pallor
Of illness or the dark circles of fatigue.
The lips. DIR. Rogers points out, are
also telltale in that they may show,
| by lack of color. A. poor quality OF
blood. or by blush tinge some seri'
! Gus fault of the organs which pump
| the blood ABOUT" The doctor warns
against bad breath and stresses the
| importance of studying the glands in
his neck, of examining his chest. his
| abdomen. his back. his limbs. and OF
endeavoring to correct speech defects.
| Getting rid of bodily defects" the
doctor declares, 'Is only the begin
| ming of health work. SO far we have
only been examining and making
needed repairs. We may have a ma.
chine made of the best material and
perfect in it's parts. but II will not run
well without plenty of good fuel and
oil and frequent cleaning. Moreover.
| the human mechanism must always
he given opportunity to renew its bat
teries from day to day by rest and
sleep"
The responsibility for training the
child in health habits, DR.. Rogers
! points out. rests chiefly with the pa.
rents. Health habits" he says, "are
as old as the hills. They have been
essential for health for ages. and their
| faithful practice has kept the wild
animal in an enviable state of physi
cal perfection. Human life has be
come so complicated by our many
| discoveries and inventions and there
| is such a variety of choice Of conduct
that children require supervision and
/ guidance in their daily program, In
orderthak>4he- doing Of the fewethinga