Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-16

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They added, 1T is gratifying, how
ever, that recent steps have been
taken to correct this condition"
Although the present administra-
tive arrangements for health in
struction in the senior high schools
was said to permit a reasonably
good program" the surveyors as
serted better results would be OBJ
tanned by scheduling health courses
for four or five hours a week in two
OF the four years of the course"
Would Withdraw Nurses.
Criticizing the use of registered
nurses as health aides" in a num-
Der of schools as an undesirable
procedure" the surveyors recon-
mended that appointment of such
nurses be discontinued. A specially
qualified teacher should be ap-
pointed instead as health counse-
lor" for each $500 to 1000 school
children, the report recommended,
to perform certain specific duties
and to serve as stimulating CEN
ter for the entire health program
OF the pupils"
Registered nurses should not be
used as Health aides" the report
said, because they are badly needed
in the community for the perform
ance of their own proper functions,
and on the other hand, the regis
tered nurse, as such, has no ade-
quate understanding either of public
health procedures or of the tech
nique Of the school environment"
The real answer to the problem,
the report said, is first, in the in
crease Of the staff of the Bureau
of Public Health Nursing, and
second, in the employment of
another type of person to carry
on certain aspects of school health
work which do not require the
professional competency of a nurse. {"
In its summary of major findings
and recommendations, the report
declared: Much progress has been
made in the development of the
school health programs of the Dis
trict and of Arlington (also in Fair
fax County with respect to health
Instruction., and this program is
in general line with good current
practices in other cities. The tech
nique of school health services is,
however, undergoing rapid and
progressive notifications and the
services provided at present could
be materially strengthened"
Present health officials in charge
OF District schools and correspond
ing authorities in each of the ada
cent areas were urged to prepare,
after conference with specialists in
sanitation, "a detailed statement of
minimum requirements for safe
and sanitary schools and school
grounds"
Greater attention was urged to
various factors in the social envir-
onment Of the school, which may
influence the emotional health of
the child"
Continuing Study Urged.
Appointment of a committee was
recommended to study the problems
of health instruction in the elemen-
tary schools of the District.
Stress was laid on proposal to
create in each school, a school
health committee, in which admin
istrators, teachers, physicians, nurses
and other personnel interested in
health should conduct continuing
study of the complex health prob
lens involved.
The surveyors also recommended
IN each area community school
health committee be organized on
the joint initiative of health and
education officials, to include repre-
sentatives from school administra-
tors, teachers, parents, medical, dem
tai, and nursing groups and COM
munity organizations"
This community committee, the
report advised, should be IAN integ-
raj and vital part of any larger COM
munity planning group which exists
or is formed" This overall agency
already is set up in the Metropolitan
Health Council of the Council of
Social Agencies.
Board Action Praised.
The District Board of Education
was praised as having taken q
forward step" in the employment
since last January /, of a full time
health educator.
Attention was called to the
"quantitative deficiency of nursing
personnel in all areas and of medical
personnels in certain areas, partic-
ularly in Alexandria, Fairfax County
and both the Maryland Counties.
An intensive study of the present
health record FORM" was recon-
mended with a view to making it
more fruitful in stimulating sound
child guidance of the individual
pupil by the teacher" -
Parents are urged to attend the
physical examinations Of their
children at schools.