Smyrna times., 1950-10-19
HEALTH TALK
AT PTA MEET
DIR. C. P. Knight Addressed
Members at Meeting on
October 11th
OTHER SPEAKERS

Child health is a problem of pre-
vention, DIR. C. P. Knight, acting
director of maternal and child
health and crippled children SER
vices, State Board of Health, TOLD
the members of the PTA at their
meeting held on Wednesday even
ing, October IL in the cafeteria OF
the school. He noted three cate
gories in which the PTA should
participate and take the lead
namely, health promotion, health
appraisal, and screening. He paid
tribute to the Smyrna School
which is known for it's cleanliness
factor in child health. Jerome
D. Niles, Jr. presided at the meet
ing, and the invocation was given
by the Rev. P. ]. Tarallo, st. JOS
ephs School, Clayton. DR.. Knight
acting as moderator, introduced
the other members of the panel
DR.. C. ]. Priokett, stressed the ed
ucational angle of the health prob
lem, and said that the PTA should
make an educational drive to gel
every child into pre-schoo
roundup which would cut dowr
illness. "There is no advantage tc
add years to life unless we add life
to years." he said, as he spoke Of
the greater average life span il
these years. DR.. Harold Halpern
optometrist, favored periodic
check-up of children's eyes, urging
parents and teachers alike to be OF
guard for evidence of symptoms O
faulty vision. Mrs. James Ever
hart, oral hygienist, said that th'
ideal age to start the child at th'
dentist is three years, SO that III
may get acquainted. She also gav'
facts and figures on fiuorine treat
ment. Henry T. Price, represent
ing elementary school parents
told of the things he liked at tn
local school: physical education
program, weight and heigh
charts, high quality of cafeteria
excellent work of school nurse. III
urged the need for precaution i
plans for the new school building
so that everything that contribute
toward health will be looked into
especially proper lighting. Mrs
Richard w. Comegys stresse
three requisites for parents of hig
school students: they must be II
terested in their health, must car
enough to do something about i
and they must be informed. Sh
cited need for proper diet, immur
ization shots, healthy recreation'
program, supervision of movie
and radio programs, good liters
ture. and of great Importance, adt
! ouate rest. Mrs. Robert Slaugf
: ter. teacher, threw out to parent
the challenge of the importance
l good breakfasts for their childrel
and signified the willingness
, teachers to cooperate with parent
: Charles Williams, faculty membe
emphasized the Importance of v
sion and hearing and said ths
parents could help if they wou
: tell of the child's defects. ut take
too long to check all of the chll'
ren." he said, "and valuable TIN
: has been lost at the start of scho
before the nurse or teacher can b.
come aware of the defects. +
: especially urged the considerable
e of planned program for childre
0 during the summer months. An
ering question as to how TO
e about having a well-baby confe
n ence, sponsored by the State Boar
d of Health, for white children
0 Smyrna. DR.. Knight said that Il
e PTA could make a survey to s.
Y if such service is desired by pa
= ents; if so, it could be requisite
e The meeting was opened by u
: singing of the national anther
Il with Frank siekmann at the plan
n Refreshments were served durir
l. the social hour by committee c
rected by Mrs. Raymond d. Puse
Mrs. Joseph Ennis was Introduce
: as legislation chairman of Il
z PTA.