The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-10-27
OUTLINES DUTIES
OF PARENTS in
CHILD WELFARE
DR.. w. p. RICE OF LOCAL
CLINIC STRESSES IMPORT
ANc5 OF EXAMINATION OF
CHILDREN

(r1ALDkEN
Discussing children i'm general
and especially those who are Of
tender age and now attending
school. with DR.. WI. P. Rice of the
local clinic, The Citizen was given
an outline of the duties of parents
to the child and a group of import
ant matters TO be observed. Said
DR.. Rice:
"It Is the duty of every parent
to have the child thoroughly ex-
amined before taking up work in
the classroom. We find children
in our public school system who
are definitely Handicapped because
Of some physical impairment.
amy child with defective vision
or hearing, with a defective car
riage, or with a poorly function
ing heart cannot hope to have the
necessary impetus to attack his
school routine.
"Many a case of early rubercu-
losis may be determined by such
an examination and the source of
infection in the limited home circle
can be ascertaned for the better
ment not only of the child, but
the family and community as well.
About Regular Routine
''In the life of a child, too fire.
quently we do not give sufficient
importance to the establishment of
regular routine. The child
should have its play, its work and
most of all, its rest. Nervous chill
dref or .wea1F-chiideen must es-
peeially have a routine adapted to
their own needs. If the child is
undernourished and does not eat
because of some chronic disease,
this condition must certainly be
corrected before added response
bility is placed upon his physical
machine.
"The child may be taught prop
er habits in the hygiene of living.
The brushing of the teeth in the
morning and the evacuation of the
bowels daily at set time, are hab-
its which will prevent grave dis
orders in life if adhered to re-
hgiously. 1t is just as important
to have the system clean within as
to have the face and ears clean
without.
Regarding Manners
sit is very essential that the
child shall early be taught the cor
rect mannerisms which will not
only give it the appearance of be-
ing 'wel.-bred', but will prevent
the spread of disease. If a child
is taught to cover his mouth when
he sneezes or coughs, much may be
accomplished in the curtailment Of
the spread of infectious diseases
in the classroom. EQ
at is an easy matter To- instiIl
the pride of proper carriage into a
child and in many instances this
will prevent later deformities;
certainly it viii make apparent,
deformities which would other
wise not be noticed, that a physical
examination may be carried out by
a physician.
Prevention Paramount Now
"When the child enters school
and comes in close contact with
other children, there is an ex-
posure to infection. Prevention
is becoming an important issue,
for prevention of disease is far
better than the treatment of dis
ease. Each child must have the
diphtheria toxo:d injection. 1t is
an absolute crime for any child to
develop diphtheria because it
stamps the word negligence on
ones doorsteRs. n
"Be prepared; assume your
community responsibility, assist
your local doctors and local health
organization t9 4 bpild, better,
stronger and more alert children"
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