Evening star., 1937-04-16
BAYH DESCRIBES
HEALTH HANDICAP
Cites Lack of Physicians to
Garry On Work in Public
Schools.

1t would take approximately three
years to have every student of the Dis
trict schools examined physically un-
der the present set-up, according to
Birch E. Bayh, head of the Depart
ment of Health and Physical Educa-
tion in divisions l to 9.
Discussing the school health problems
in connection with the approaching
Child Health day in May, Bayh
described the present arrangement
under which some IA physicians and
about l6 nurses are available from
the District health officer to examine
medically more than 10000 children.
The doctors are on part-time basis,
generally available only from 9 am.
to noon, he said.
Allowing Is minutes for an eX-
amation, though it frequently takes
much longer, the doctors could cover
out. AT that rate it would take we'll
over 500 days to get to them all. On
the basis of 1870 school-day year, it
would take at least three before we
could get to each child"
Each child should have at least
four physical examinations while he
Is in the school system, Bayh believes,
one on entering kindergarten, one four
or five years later, another around the
time puberty is reached and a final
examination before leaving the system.
At present each child averages about
two health examinations during his or
her term in the schools.
Cites Parents Apathy.
1.-THE greatest trouble we encounter"
the health director declared, lis the
apathy of the parents. 1t is very hard
to get them interested in what We are
trying to do"
This year examinations have been
given both boys and girls in the Wood
row Wilson, Roosevelt, Powell and
Elliott Schools and the boys in Nc
Kinley High.
Bayh said that the parent-tea CHI
er groups had been cooperative and
helpful. They have introduced an
experimental dental course in the
elementary schools of division 6
which will attempt to provide exami-
nation, correction and instruction for
both children and parents
Because of the difficulty in obtain
ing adequate service from the small
staff of medical inspectors, a five
point" plan was inaugurated in the
colored schools by Edwin B. Hender-
son, head Of the Department of Health
and Physical Education in divisions
10 to l3. The tests are administered by
physical education teachers, who
examine each pupils for eye, teeth,
posture, weight and throat defects.
Teeth Most Common Defect.
Examination of the statistics re-
srlting from the operation of the
plan over the last eight years reveals
bad teeth as by far the most COM
mon defect. Girls are underweight
in larger numbers than boys and gen.
orally have poorer posture Nose and
throat defects seem to be decreasing,
probably due to the growing amount
Of tonsilectomy in earlier child life
Henderson explained that the plan
was operated on the basis of competi-
ton to become "f1ve-pointer'
through successful completion of the
tests.
Tests in morbidity and investiga-
tions into the causes of student death
and absence from school are being
conducted in the white schools, Bayh
revealed, with the idea of relating
the information so compiled to the
teaching program. Work of this ma
ture may be prevented under the
rider to the appropriations bill pro-
hibiting teachers to perform any cler-
deal work not incident to their teach
ing, he admitted.
AT any rate we'll try to carry on
. program of health to the best of
our ability" he said I'VE know what
we need and we will keep on work
ing to get it. We have got to get at
the children. Medical care and
health instruction to adults is mega
tive, because it is cure. If We can
get to the child it may mean preven-
kion -