Evening star., 1937-01-09
Continued From Page BID

come to understand each others prob
lens.
AS PIT. A. publication puts it:
1--WE could measure an ocean of milk,
seas OF cocoa and soup, mountains of
bread and jam for school lunches. but
we cannot measure the mental, social
and spiritual impetus given to under
nourished children through an awak-
ened physical vitality"
Here in Washington today the Child
Health Committee of the association
is cooperating with DR.. Joseph N.
Murphy and Dr.. Harry Ostrow Of
the District Health Department in
planning program to prevent and
correct dental defects among INDECENT
school children. this program to in
clude more children than have ever
been served before.
Outstanding in the accomplish
ments of the Health Committee is the
Summer roundup" started in 1925,
and now headed by Mrs. P. C. Elicit,
with Mrs. Lucian Jordan, vice presi-
dent in charge.
Annually the Roundup Committee
arranges that children younger than
school age are taken to doctors and
examined for physical defects. Last
Spring, for example, 902 were ex-
amined, TAI of which entered school
in the Fall. The remainder are ex-
pected to register next month.
OF this number, defects Of 81 per
cent were completely corrected before
the children started school. In the
United States 10000 pe-school chill
dren have entered their school days
with fewer physical handicaps as a
result of this work.
Another department is that dedi-
Gated to the exceptional" child. boys
and girls crippled. totally or partially
deaf, and blind. For years Mrs. M. j.
Hanley has been transporting crippled
children to clinics for treatment. The
Mental Hygiene Committee has been
studying remedial reading-the neces-
ity to read from right to left rather
than left to right-and special classes
have been arranged for children with
this defect. Some children, previously
thought dull, could not learn to read
only because school instruction is for
the normal vision. Mrs. Murray o.
Hayes conducts lip-reading classes for
the deaf, results of which have been
demonstrated at PIT. A. board meet
ings. This committee is cooperating
with the Association for Blind Aid on
behalf of sightless young persons.
At headquarters is the Hannah Ber-
liner Sanders Memorial Library, filled
with volumes on child guidance and
available to all members. The late
Mrs. Sanders was vice president in
sharge of the health department for
many years and the organization
started a library fund in her honor
after her death three years ago.
Administration Of the Phoebe Apper-
son Hearst PIT. A. Foundation Fund
is intrusted to PIT. A., supplying
clothing and caring for the health
of needy junior and senior high school
students in the District. Thirty pairs
of glasses alone were purchased
through this fund last year.
DR.. Paul Ewerhardt Is mental
hygienist for the association, and has
done magnificent work in adjusting
children to happier and more fruit
full lives, according to Mrs. Fry.
Other functions of the association
are numerous, extending all over the
United States. In Washington all
except Paul and Alice Deal Junior
High Schools and Western and Wood
row Wilson Senior High Schools are
members. OF 80 elementary schools
rs are affiliated. Floods of educational
pamphlets are issued by the organiza-
ton, as well as the monthly National
Parent-Teachers Magazine.
The Student Aid Committee, headed
by Mrs. E. j. Dowling, was estab-
lished to keep children in school,
providing clothing all year round to
children who might otherwise have
nothing to wear to school. 1t was
first known as the "shoes and rubbers"
committee. And yet the association
is in no sense a welfare organization,
Mrs. Fry says. It's purpose Is pri-
marily to educate, not children, but
parents and teachers, so that they
may prepare their charges for adult
life more effectively. Health work
attempts to keep boys and girls in
good condition. not only for the sake