Evening star., 1935-05-02
DISTRICT MEDICAL
STAFF TOO SMALL
FOR SCHOOL PLAN
Rutland Cites Requirement
for BalIou Program of
Examinations.
FOUR TESTS IN 12-YEAR
PERIOD HELD ADVISABLE
Board Seen Likely to Pass Pro.
posal-Congress May Get
Fund Request.

uuu pCQuCSG'
District Health Officer George C.
Rutland said today present personnel
of his department must be consider
ably augmented to carry out properly
even the limited program Of medical
examination of all public school chill
dren recommended late yesterday by
Supt. of Schools Frank w. Ballou.
That the substance Of Ballou's plan,
which calls for four complete physical
examinations of children from kinder
garten to graduation from high school.
will receive the strong Endorsement OF
the Board OF Education was indicated
by attitudes of members at a meeting
yesterday. Absence of Mrs. Henry
Grattan Doyle. vice president. who is
much interested in the subject, caused
postponement of board action to the
next meeting.
Possibility that Congress may be
asked TO finance still more preten-
.ious physical examination program
developed when Henry I. Quinn, board
member. suggested that DR.. Rutland
be asked for estimates going much
further than Dr.. Ballous recon-
mendations.
For Next Years Budget.
Mr.. Quinn said the object Of the re-
o,ast x,oS RI pi,t the estimates in next
years budget.
And / think we can get plenty OF
support on Capitol HILL" he added.
DR.. Rutland made 1t plain he does
not oppose DR.. Ballous plan.
I'VE are heartily in favor of the
program. but regret that our present
facilities are inadequate properly to
carry 1t out" he said.
DR.. Rutland particularly empha-
sized the need for additional nurses
in follow-up work.
ment service be extended to parOchial
as well as public schools, on the theory
that the departments function is to
promote the health Of all the city's
children without regard to where they
attend school.
DR.. Ballou's report, which was re-
Quested some time ago by the board,
expressed the desirability of yearly ex-
animation of all public school pupils.
Holding. however. that the "finan-
cial situation and other pressing needs
in the school system" make yearly
examinations impossible at the pres
ent time, the superintendent recon-
mended that comprehensive physical
tests be held:
1. On entrance to the public schools.
whether in kindergarten or first grade
or any subsequent year.
2. On completion Of the last ele-
mentary year.
3. On completion of the last year
in junioi high school.
4. On completion of the last year
in senior high school.
S. On completion of the fourth year
of the teachers college.
Valuable Results Seen.
DR.. Ballou pointed out that the re-
suits of such examinations would be
valuable in determining a progrs m
of health and physical education. The
person appointed to fill the newly
created post of director of health and
physical education is expected to play
large part In formulating such a
program.
I'm making a provision for the
physical examination of boys and
girls on completing the sixth year
of the elementary schools we would
be evauluating the results of our edu-
cational program there and also
making 1t possible for such elemen-
tary school graduates to take with
them to junior high schools the re-
suits of such an examination, thereby
providing Junior high schools with
information about boys and girls
which will be valuable in determining
the type of health and physiacl edu-
cation needed" explained DIR. Ballou.
Correspondence, provision for the
physical examination of junior high
school graduates will do likewise in
the senior high schools"
DIR. Ballou suggested that the board,
II 1t approves his program. request DIR.
Ruhland to indicate to what extent
it may be begun with the present staff
of medical inspectors, what further
personnel would be needed, and
whether 1t would be practicable to
undertake the program relying on the
voluntary cooperation of private
physicians.
Summing up the aim of an exam
ination program, DIR. Ballou said:
1.-The detection Of physical defects in
order that they may, If possible, be
remedied. the development of an early
interest in boys and girls in their
own health. and development at sn
early age Of proper health habits
constitute the basis of constructive
program of health and physical edu-
cation"
Health inspections by teachers now
constitute the principal physical ex-
animation In the public schools, DR..
Ballou told the board.
Additional Teachers.
Need for additional teachers to
care for problem children was sug-
gested by DR.. ]. Hayden johnson,
board member, who said too great a
burden is being imposed on teachers
who have such pupils in their classes.
He said he would introduce reports,
by several principals at the next meet
ing showing the need for more
teachers.
Appointment of q director of the
Department of Health and Physical
Education. expected to occur shortly,
was not considered, since DIR. Ballou
wishes to interview one more candi-
date before making his recommenda-
ton to the board.
It was decided to hold special
meeting next Wednesday to hear q
report from DR.. Ballou on the prog
ress Of the character education ex-
pertinent. This report was requested
by Mrs. Phillip Sidney Smith. member
of the board.
The question of whether positions
of teachers in the Industrial Home
a - "a