Evening star., 1928-10-15
A School That Is Needed.

The Kiwanis Club, which since 1928
has made the care and treatment OF
crippled children its major objective, is
seeking to interest the Board of Educa-
ton and other organizations in the es-
adjustment, as part of the. public
school system, of a special school for
the combined treatment and education
OF crippled children. The appeal comes
at a time when the opening of the
schooI year once again shows that
washington is woefully behind in its
equipment even for the education of
normal children. The Kiwanis Club,
therefore, can hardly expect that its
appeal will bring immediate results.
But it has set a goal. and most de-
sirable one. 1t is only reasonable to
expect that in time 1t will be reached.
Since 1923 the Kiwanis Club has
given its attention to the care and
treatment Of some 26O cases of crippled
children. 1t has spent more than $40
600 on hospital fees, nurses, braces, etc.
1t has used its good Offices to obtain
surgical treatment for its patients and
none of the doctors thus enlisted has
ever submitted bill Today 1t has 100
cases in hand. But the field is always
broadening. The demand has already
reached proportions never contemplated
by the club in the beginning. Study of
the situation has convinced the club
that a problem is presented which will
find its only solution when the COM
munity steps in and makes the educa-
ton and care of crippled children a
part Of its duty.
The Kiwanis Club believes that in the
National Capital, which the country
should regard as a model in educational
and child health facilities, there should
be established a crippled-child school,
centrally located and properly equipped
with a bus system and provided and
maintained with equipment and per-
sonnel for treatment as we'll as educa-
ton of the pupils. The Kiwanis Club
further asks for the approval of a de-
Velopment plan for disqualification, in
the nature Of convalescent home ad-
jacent to Gallinger Hospital for the
care of prolonged hospital cases. There
is no provision of such care in the
District at the present time.
Other cities have established schools
for crippled children and their success
has been marked. Here in Washington
the child handicapped by physical de-
formities, many of which can be recti-
fed in part by proper treatment, are
deprived Of the education that is due
them. in many cases deprived of the
treatment that might cure them, unless
they are taken under the wing of a pri-
vate organization such as the Kiwanis
Club. Those who do attend school are
held back because of their physical all
ments, despite their mental ability to
progress with normal children. The
need is established, and the community
should join the Kiwanis Club in its ap-
peal that 1t be properly met.
1t was only. within the recent past
that the District school system recog-
nized the necessity for the establish
ment of separate school for the treat
ment and care of tuberculous children.
Two such schools are now oper-
ating, and such has been the demand
upon their facilities that they, too, are
overcrowded, and with other agencies
of the District suffer from lack of
funds and equipment. But they have
been established. The problem of the
tuberculous school child is in way of
being solved. Likewise, it required
years to focus public attention on the
need for the provision of special edu-
cational facilities for deaf and dumb
children. That problem is also being
solved. The Kiwanis Club has shown
the need for another step, which the
community must now prepare to take.