Evening star., 1943-04-25

President D. C. Congress
With the added importance being
given to health education in our
public schools under the new physi-
cal fitness program, the summer
roundup of the children attains a
new significance this year.
The new school program, as it will
function for the next year or two,
will touch only the junior and SEN
ior high schools. Elementary school
children will not share in its bene-
fits to any appreciable extent. This,
of course, is due not to any favor
itisn on the part of the school
officials. Lack of personnel to carry
on such program makes it impos-
sible to extend it to all levels in
the public schools. Therefore, it
was thought wisest to concentrate
on the junior and senior high
schools so that the pupils who al
ready had gone through more than
half their school life would benefit
as much as possible. AS the per-
sonnel becomes available, the pro-
gram will be extended to all levels.
And here is where the Importance
of the roundup, which applies to
pre-school children, is emphasized.
Project Is Years Old.
The roundup for more than a
quarter of a century has been one
of the outstanding health projects
of the National Congress of Parents
and Teachers. 1t opens officially on
Child Health Day, May l. Mrs
Leo RayWid, who is State chairman
for this activity, is optimistic over
the prospects for the largest and
most successful roundup we have
ever had.
Almost a thousand pre-school age
children were rounded up last
year by local congress unit chair
men and given thorough physical
examinations. 1t is surprising how
many remediable defects are
brought to light during one of these
campaigns. Since an educational
program, directed toward the par
ents, is carried on simultaneously,
most, if not all, of these defects
are corrected later.
Impetus Given by War.
Undoubtedly, results of physical
examinations given to large groups
of selectees during the past few
years are, in a measure, responsible
for the impetus being given to ply
sical fitness programs. If parents
of young men now in our armed
services constantly had been aware
of the value of physical perfection
in their children. the story undoubt-
edly would have been much differ
ent Only now are we learning, as
nation, the Importance of proper
nutritional habits, of calorie and
vitamin value of foods, of well-di-
rected physical exercises. No
amount of mental brilliance can
compensate for physical disability,
and where, as is often the case,
physical fitness is only a matter of
proper health habits, including both
food and exercise. no excuse seems
valid for failing to acquire them.
Clinics to Be Held.
For this reason. also, the summer
roundup of children assumes not
only new Importance, but implies
a genuine responsibility. both on
the part of the parents and the par
ent teacher worker who volunteers
to do the "leg-work" AS has been
usual in other years, clinics will be
held in elementary schools, to which
children may be brought for thor
ough check While this service is
provided parents are urged where
ever possible to make use Of the
family doctor, dentist and oculist.
The main concern of the Parent
Teacher Association Is, of course,
to make certain that every child who
will enter school for the first time
next September or February is
carefully examined so that defects
may be discovered. To have the
purpose fulfilled 100 pc rcent re-
mediable defects should be corrected
during the warm summer months so
that the child may enter school
completely free of bothersome, little
defects which may require only
slight attention by the family ply
sician, but which may spell the diff
ference between a happy or an un-
pleasant introduction to school life.
Gage.
Mrs Walton Terrell, chairman,
reports bundle week, April 1916,
for benefit of student aid work, was
very successful.
Mrs. Joseph Levy, ways and means
chairman, held a game party at
the school on April Is.
Mrs. James Wilson, president, is
making arrangements for a group
of parents from the association to
60 to the Red Cross blood donors
center to donate blood. Any one
interested is requested to contact
Mrs. Wilson.
Gordon Junior High.
The following new officers were
elected last Wednesday afternoon:
Mrs. G, c. Ripley, president; Mrs
G. H. Jones, first vice president in
charge of room representatives;
Mrs. C. w. Elliott second vice presi-
dent and hospitality; Mrs. R. R.
Zimmerman, third vice president
and membership; Mrs. Hubert Hew-
lett, fourth vice president and pro-
gram; Mrs. G. L. Seward, jr, fifth
vice president and publicity; Mrs
F.. Woodrow, sixth vice president
and ways and means: Mrs. j. F.
Lands. seventh vice president and
student aid; Frank Woodward. prin-
cipal, eighth vice president; Mrs. A
King. recording secretary; Mrs
w E. Hubbard, corresponding sec
retary: Mrs L. S, Kessler. treasurer.
These officers were installed by Mrs
P. C. Elicit, president, District of
Columbia Congress of Parents and
Teachers.
A y,rouro,,, u,oc r,reee,,tod by tho