Evening star., 1926-11-07
YOUR CHILD
In SCHOOL
By DR.. Frank ". Bdllou,
superintendent of schools Washington
D. G.
No. S-Health Inspection q School
Necessity.

ANtCcSSNt.
The adage empha sizing the benefits
Of "A sound mind in a sound body is
nowhere shown more clearly than in
the classroom. If the school is to do
it's work we'll the boys and girls who
are sent to it must come not only in
health as good AS circumsta noes per
NIT. but their physical fitness must
be increase and maintained through
out their school days.
| Medical examination of every child
entering the public schools Is desir-
able. if that childs physical and in
telectllal welfare is to he furthered
| by his attendance at school. Only
| through such an examination can his
physical needs he understood and pro
vded for. and. what is Of the greatest
| importa the intellectual growth Of
the child can go forward properly
only when his physical condition is
satisfa ctory.
When the medical examination of
boys and girls Is made on their en-
trance to school an exact record
should he kept of every detail that is
observed. Physical defects should he
noted carefully and their extent re-
corded With accuracy, since it is on
the accuracy of this preliminary rec
ord that future corrective mea sures
can be prescribed.
Once the child has entered upon the
classroom routine the time is at ha md
for a definite program of health ad-
vancement. Physicians. dentists and
nurses should Join in work to over
come the bodily defects with which
the child has entered school. IF eve.
sight is impaired. parents should he
urged to have it corrected, If there
are defornities Of any sort that cal
be corrected by proper treatment
parents. who are responsible for the
child, should he given the information
gained by the school medical exami
nation and advised concerning the
steps that may be taken to remedy
the trouble. The child's teeth must
he watched carefully AS we'll as tonsi
or adenoidal conditions. for it is de
fects of this sort which may result ir
very great impairment of the child's
intellectual growth
The school health program, how
ever, should not consist only of cor
rective features. 1t Is imperative tc
remedy the defects with which the
child comes to the school, but once ir
the classroom 1t is the duty of the
educa tional system to prevent other
defects which may develop during the
child's later adolescent years.
! Preventive measures can be accom-
plished hest by providing for them ir
the classroom program. If the gen
eral program of study for the youns
child is to he we'll rounded it mus
not neglect the body, which Is such
an important factor in the intellectual
development of the boy or girl.
Health training should begin early
OF course. the foundations should bs
laid in the home, but the school right
ly may be called upon to provide the
supplemental features. There shouif
he definite attention given to the
pra ctices which make for healthfu
living.
Formal instruction in measure.
that will improve bodily health shoul,
he supplemented more and more a:
the child advances in age by physica
exercises that will develop every Dor
tion of the body. School athletics vii
form a valuable part Of this program
They not only afford an opportunit,
for physical exercise of very bene
fetal kind, but are likely to attrac
youngster to means of physical de
velopment that Is enjoyable as vel
as beneficial.
The one essential to the success O.
athletics is that every child who CAL
should participate in some branch o
sport. All may not be able to pla,
foot ball, but they may he able to en-
gage in base ball or basket bail, ten
mis- or track sports. Every child wht
is physically able to do so shoult
learn how to swim at least vel
enough to save himself in an emer
gency- -
Copyright. xe2e.l