Evening star., 1939-10-21
Advisers Back
Abandonmentof
Health Schools
Committee Acts
After Tuberculosis
Contogion Is Secuted

The Board of Education today
had before it recommendation Of
its Advisory Committee on Handi-
capped Children to abandon the
Allison and Toner Health Schools
as special schools for children with
non communicable tuberculosis.
In addition, the % crippled chill
dren now taught in special classes
at the Langdon School would be
transferred to Allison as soon as
provision could be made in the regu-
lar schools for the present popula-
ton, and the building could be suit
ably equipped for the crippled.
The report, adopted by the COM
mittee in lengthy session in the
Franklin School last night, placed
squarely on the Health Department
the responsibility of educating the
public to the change, of making
detailed examinations of every child
now in the health schools, of recon-
mending facilities for the other
schools to compensate for the feed
ing and rest treatment now received
by the health school pupils, and
to exclude, as usual, from all Dis
trict schools any child known to
have active tuberculosis.
School officers, however, were to
give prompt attention to Health De-
partment rulings as to needed facil-
tiles and programs for the children
and another recommendation urged
inspection of teachers as possible
carriers Of tuberculosis.
Would Affect lis Pupils.
The report, however. included the
definite proposal that the two health
schools be abandoned only when
facilities could be provided for the
children in the regular schools. in
all about lis pupils would be af-
fected.
The committee was won over to
support abandonment of the two
schools after DR.. A. Barklie Coulter,
director of the Health Departments
Bureau of tuberculosis, insisted posi-,
lively there is nothing contagious
about the childhood type of the dis
ease. 1IlC SlllOOlS lidNC bNNh uStu
for children having positive tu-
berculin reaction test. DR.. Coulter
said there was no way in medical
science of forecasting that a child
with either positive or negative
tuberulin reaction would later de-
velop active tuberculosis.
There is no more reason to pick
out the positive tuberculins and seq.
regate them in these schools" he
emphasized before the committee,
than there is to pick out children
with red hair and put them m the
school,
No Tuberculous Children.
mo tuberculous children are c"
ever have been in the Allison and
Toner Schools to my knowledge he
said drawing a distinction between
''tuberculous" and Tuberculosis in
fected" children.
He insisted that the two health
schools have been a couple Of white
elephants on his hands and had
been wished on him.
Between 30 and IS per cent OF the
high school seniors nave positive
tuberculin reaction. he added, and
with rare exceptions have passed
through the primary stage without
developing symptoms sufhcient to
warrant any change from ordinary
routine of life.
DR.. Coulter cited steadily decreas-
ing enrolment in the health schools
since 1884 from 143 to the present
81. Only three cases now in the
Allison School showed any suspic-
ious signs under X-ray, he said, and
four have negative tuberculin reac-
tions.
Twenty y-seven of the cases now at
Allison have been discharged from
the clinic as not in need Of further
follow-up, he said, and 80 from
Toner.
The question resolves itself into
one of protection of all children who|
might be designated by the general
and lay term of delicate he de-
clared.
He said he was entirely in favor
of general health schools for deli :,
cate children and that many could,
be found of that type to fill them
up. but said he objected to the seq
regation from any tuberculosid
standpoint. There was no objectionl
he said, to moving the crippled ch'l
dren right in with the children now
insthe health schools, from medics
viewpoint.
Mrs. Grant Signs Report.
The report was signed by Mrsl
Ernest r. Grant, chairman of the|
subcommittee on tuberculosis, al I
though Mrs. Grant is an avowed I'd !
vocate of the continuance of the tHo|
schools. She told the committee shd
was deferring to the Health Depart
ment.
Despite the committees action, o. !
servers saw little chance for any
immediate change in the present
set-up. Even should the board
approve the recommendation of the
committee. funds would have to be
found both to equip the regular
schools with rest facilities before the
present population is evacua ted,
under the report, and to outfit The
Allison School to provide for The
crippled children School officers
have estimated the latter job would
require between $4,000 and $4,000,
which. they said. is not available in
the general repair and maintenance
fund. 1t was further recalled that
the 194l budget estimates have Al
ready been submitted to the Com
missioners While this would not
preclude additions of items, the
Commissioners, the Budget Bureau
and later Congress will have to be
sold" on the matter.
A report from Mrs. Allen L. Worries,
chairman of the subcommittee on
usually handicapped children. was
adopted calling for a part time
ophthalmologist for the school sys-
tenn, social worker to serve as
liaison person between eye doctor,
teacher, parent and child a lighting