Montana labor news., 1944-04-06

MODELLING FOR
CANCER CONTROL
Montana's youth is modifying for from
line duty in the fight on cancer. It i
being prepared to back the attack o
the Montana Division of the Field Arm,
for the Control of Cancer in acquiring
and disseminating the knowledge tina.
treated in time, cancer can be cured.
according to Mrs. H. w. Peterson, distric.
commander.
At the beginning of the second semes.
ter, a unit of instruction on education
for the control of cancer was Introduce
in six experimental high schools, Lewis
town, Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman
Butte and Billings. Preliminary to add
ing the cancer control unit to the estab-
hshed health education courses in these
six experimental schools, a conference
Of the school program counselors com
mittee of the Field Army was held in
Helena, with G. C. Manning Of Lewis
town, president Of the Fontana Public
Health association, presiding as chair
man. Schools to participate in the ex-
pertinent were asked to send representa-
tives.
Manning is president Of the element
airy schools and principal of the high
school at Lewistown, where of the
most progressive health development and
physical education programs in the state,
according to educators, has been under
way for the last ten years.
That the study Of cancer and its con-
troll has already caught the Imagination
Of Treasure state youth, is indicated by
the numerous requests from students
coming to state headquarters of the Field
Army, for additional material concerning
a disease that was known to the Egyp-
tians more than three thousand years
ago. Who knows but that one of the
Montana students may become so inter-
ested in the study, that in the years to
come, he or she may be the one to dis
cover the cause Of cancer or a specific
for its cure.
A specific cure for cancer has not as
yet been discovered nor is the cause Of
cancer known. But the possibility of
curing cancer in its early stages, through
the mediums Of surgery, radium and
x-rays has been satisfactorily demon
strated and medical records prove that
thousands of lives are being saved each
year by early diagnosis and prompt, ade-
quate, scientific treatment.
AS Montana high school students in
these six experimental schools and the
twenty-seyen other high schools using
the unit, continue the study of cancer
this semester, they viii gradually
become aware of its full significance;
that knowledge of cancer is as essential
to the saving Of life as is the production
Of blood plasma: as important to the
iurthering Of the war effort as the pro-
Of adequate nutrition, Mrs. Peter
son predicts.
Measures for saving the life of a sol
iier's mother are as important to the
morale of our fighting forces as are
measures for saving his own" she con-
ends.
Attending the counselors meeting in
Helena was Miss Elizabeth ireland. state
up%erintendent of public instruction, who
expressed the opinion that the study of
ANGER was a valuable addition to the
school health education program.
Others present were Lowell Johnson,
uperintendent of Butte schools. d. S.
Villains, superintendent Bozeman; Miss
anette Carver, representing the Great
'alls system; George Leger, Thomas Ed
ards and Mrs. Mary Hawkes. represent
the Helena system; Miss Kay Eliza
Anderson, representing the state
apartment Of health; Mrs. Peterson and
II. Manning.
The group adopted the study outline
Cancer with knowledge" When
lese six schools have completed the
ork, representatives will meet and
the results and plan for the
lture of the project. Recommendation
then be made through the Field
rmy.
Detectives Of the group, as adopted,
e:
a. Place cancer control in its proper
tting in the health program and thus
a better public consciousness of the
lportance Of cancer control work.
b. Improve the health Of the individual
Id the nation.
c. Eliminate fear Of cancer by increas-
g knowledge of its durability.
Bring about more cooperation be-
cen educators and the medical pro- 8
and stress the Importance of
riodic comprehensive health examina-
ms.
e. Show up the futility of "quacks"
d patent medicines as cancer cures.
f. Encourage schools to assume their
Il share OF responsibility for com
nifty health programs.
Teach scientific facts, not only
out cancer, but all phases of the
TOOL health program.
b Develop community attitudes fa-
'able to health education and COM
nifty support for an all inclusive
llth program.
The group favored close cooperation
h the Montana Public Health associa-
n in its effort to build up public