The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-30
School Health Program Proposed By State Department of Education
At First Sign of Cold Pupil Should Be Sent Home

' fupuS WlCn Deg1nn1ng colds should be sent home from school for their own good and for the protection of other pupils" This is one of hte suggestions concern ing school health practices con- tained in the report of committee appointed by the State Department of Education from among prominent physicians, public health workers, and educators, to study the problems of school health service and health workers, and educators, to study the problems of school health service and health education in Connecticut and to recommend basic policies for school authorities to follow.
 An adequate and sound program of health education and service in the schools, according to the recom- mendations of the committee, should include:
 The provision of a healthful
 environment physically, socially,
 and eInotionally in which the activities of the school can be
 carried on.
 The organization of a planned
 program for the care of injuries
 and. sickness occurring during
 school hours.
 The cooperation of the schools
 with other community health or-
 ganizations in a program of con-
 tinuous control of contagious dis-
 ease.
 The teaching of pupil habits
 and attitudes which will be con-
 ducive to the maintenance of good
 health not only while the stu
 dents are in school but also when
 they have completed their school
 careers.
 The development of a plan for
 periodic physical and health ex-
 aminations and the keeping of
 cumulative health records of stu
 dents.
 The provision for special atten- tion for those students who are in
 need of medical and dental care
 through follow-up programs.
 The furnishing of special educa-
 tional programs for those who are
 in poor health or who are physi-
 cally handicapped.
 The supervision and training of
 teachers in service for their speci-
 fic responsibility in school health.
 Many groups, the report states, are interested in furthering child health; but none has a more defin- ite responsibility than the local school authorities. The school pro- grams in health instruction and in health service, the committee recom- mendS, should be organized on a comprehensive basis from the kin dergarten through the secondary schools.
 School health instruction, accord ing to the committee, should in clude the causes of disease, how di. Bease is spread, what prevention measures are available, and the proper selection and use of profess sional health services. The greatest value arising from school health in- Struction is a scientific attitude to- ward the problem of health. This attitude, the committee believes, can break down superstitions and fads and can fit pupils to analyze critic ally the vast amount of misleading |Statements concerning health pre- |Sented by some magazines and some radio programs.
 The allotment of certain state |grants on a basis of average daily attendance. the committee finds, tends to make some school authori- ties over-zealous in maintaining school attendance with the result that many children are encouraged Ito attend school when they should be at home. In condemning this practice, the committee suggests that pupils be commended for stay ling at home when their condition |ts such that going to school would |endanger their own health or the health of others.
 The giving of periodic physical ex- Limitations to the school child by the |school physician, or preferably the |fanily doctor, is recommended as an essential part of any sound program. The report questions the value of |routine examinations in which the results are merely marked upon a |card and filed without adequate |etudy. Good practice involves check on defects and follow-up |until they are remedied.
 Schools should adopt some form |of daily morning health inspection. the report recommends. and should train teachers to recognize symp- toms which may indicate the onset |of communicable disease so that ail- ling children may be discovered and