The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-01-28

disabled. I now appeal to you in a
very similar one. The hard times
have driven unthinking people In
their blind urge to cut down ex-
penses in their counties to attempt
to economic in the development Of
the greatest treasure they possess
their boys and girls.
There is one thing that children
must depend on us for-that is
their health. They might excuse
us in years to come for other short
comings, but If we fail them in this
particular they will have good cause
for complaint. To rear the coming
generation free as is humanity pos
sible from physical defects is a
community as well as family
duty. There are few counties so
backward that they do not en-
ploy at least one nurse who goes
to the schools and examines the
children and reports to the parents
or, in case of dependents, to the
county commissioners, on such de-
fects as can be remedied.
these nurses are the country's
Liaison officers not only between
the parent and the child in such
matters, but between doctors, dem
lists, clergy and all those concern
ed with the welfare of the child.
They assemble the mothers and
give talks on the prevention of ac-
cidents and disease and the care of
the handicapped. They bring to
their attention the knowledge that
has only recently been acquired in
the care of tuberculosis. They ex-
plain what the state offers in the
way of special education to the
blind, the deaf and dumb, and the
crippled. They assist in the pre-
vention Of the spread of infectious
diseases in the schools, and they
distribute literature on health &C
cording to the family.
There is no question in the mind
of any sane man or woman about
the usefulness of well trained, in
telligent woman in the county CIV
ing her time to it's welfare in all
that pertains to health, but some
counties are alarmed at the high
taxes, and attempt to economic by
cutting off the source of health ed
ucation.
How much is the cost Of a coun-
ty nurse, and how far would 1t go
in relieving the hard times? A half
mile of new road would cost more
to the county than the nurse for a
whole year. Putting up the auto
mobile for a month or two in win
ter would save more than the cost
of a nurse to the individual farm
err.
"Do farmers realize that in the
cities where health advantages are
greater than in the country, nurses
are provided as regularly as teach
ers in the schools, while the coun-
try schools have no provision at all
except through a county nurse!
The difference in the development
in the town and country children
was never better shown than In the
war draft, when the country boys
were rejected for physical defects
two to one of the city boys. A
professor from our State University
said to me recently that in observ-
ing the Freshman class he could
tell pretty well whether they were
from the city or the country by the
number of physical defects that re-
manned uncorrected.
Mothers Of our country children
stand up for your rights! Do not
be swept away by the unreasoning.
mob spirit that would deprive you
of the one helper you have in car
ing for the, health of your family.
When meetings are called to reduce
the taxes, attend them! Help to re-
reduce the taxes when you can,
but stand for your right to have at
least one real health officer in the
county to advise you and assist you
in raising your family according to
the best standards Of health"