Evening star., 1954-03-28
By jones 6. Deone

To a youngster like Kenny
Rick. school is more than the
three RS
Kenny. not quite 8, wears a
brace reaching from his neck
to his feet.
Once upon a time he was so
badly paralyZed that he could
only slightly move his head, and
no other part of his body. He
could not even cry. About three
months ago, however. he vol
unfairly grasped some crutches
and moved across a room alone
for the first time. Now he moves
about a little more (and little
more easily each day.
Kenny is a typical pupil of
the Health School. at Thirteenth
and Upshur streets NV. Young
victims of cerebral palsy. polio
and other Affections Of bones.
muscles and nerves not only
need reading, writing and arith-
metic but also must learn to
overcome physical handicaps,
and many. like Kenny. must
learn to walk.
Washington has been provid-
ing special schooling for Grip
pied youngsters at Heath School
and at the Anthony Bowen
School in the Southeast-the
latter for colored children-for
q number of years.
Free Lunches.
These schools combined phys
ical therapy clinics operated by
the Health Department, occu-
pational therapy and academic
instruction. Children are given
free lunches. which become part
of the instructional program
since they involve learning to
use eating implements. They
also are given free transporta-
ton to and from school. At
present the two schools together
have 81 pupils (69 white, %
colored).
A casual visitor to either of
the health schools will be i'm
pressed by the enthusiasm and
devotion of staff members. and
by the courage of the young .
sters. Every child has his own
individual set of problems, and
coping with them demands end
less patience by the child and
his instructor. Also essential is
close CO. operation between
school and parents.
Few schools have so challeng-
ing a job, and school officials
are proud of the manner in
which their stats are meeting
the challenge.
For some time. authorities
have acknowledged that facili-
ties at both schools are not
everything they might be, how
ever.
Parents have been actively
seeking Improvements for sew
eral years at the white Health
School. The chief problem there
is a lack of adequate space.
Health School occupies a one
story building next door to Bur-
dick Vocational High School. 1t
was built to house tuberculosis
patients. Of a long corridor.
equipped with a railing for
pupils who need 1t. are four
unusually large rooms, one Of
which is the physical therapy
clinic. The other three are aca-
demic classrooms. There are also
a dining room. a smaller class
room, a restroom equipped with
beds. and some Offices.
The school staff includes four
academic teachers, four physi-
cal therapists, one occupational
therapist, part-time speech
instructor. nurse, and part
time nutritionist. as we'll as a
full-time principal. Mrs. Eliza
beth M. Goodman.
Last fall Silver L. Tesone.
chairman of the legislative Com
mittee of the Health School Par
ent-Teacher Association, told the
District Commissioners at a pub
lie hearing that Health School
pupils actually do not receive
needed educational services given
the city's normal children.
TesOne Cites Points.
Mr.. Tesone, who has a child
crippled by cerebral palsy, made
these points:
/. Health School has no kim
dergarten, although all normal
District grade schools do.
2. Health School has no
separate classes for a typical
(slow-learning) children, al
though such classes are pro-
vided for youngsters without
physical handicaps.
g. Health School has only
half a cloakroom for occupa-
tional therapy work, although
vocational training is essential
to prepare handicapped young
sters for the years following
their schooling.
4. Health School has no
classes beyond ninth grade (the
junior high school leveD even
though many nnnilS are not able