Evening star., 1955-10-20
Don't Try 70 Bal
Childhood Ills,
PTA Advised
Some Diseases Help
In Later Years,
D. c. Doctor Suys

1t is not good idea for par
Ients to overprotect their chill
ldren from so-called inevitable"
childhood diseases such as
lmumps and measles which may
Igo harder with them In later
life. the 1855 Parent Teacher
institute was told today.
DR.. Richard Todd. chairman
Iof the child welfare committee
lof the District Medical Society,
made this observation as q
speaker at the closing session Of
1.-THE two-day institute sponsored
by George Washington Univer-
Isity and the District Congress
lof Parents and Teachers,
In the case OF German
measles. for instance, he said
young girls possibly should be
Eexposed to them before they
reach hild-bearing age. because
Iof the chance Of congenital de-
lformity later.
1--WE feel that If q child is
over 3 years OF age and in good
health, there is no reason to
protect that child" he said.
Acute Sex Problem
DR.. Todd also said there has
been an increase in homo
Isexuality in the District in the
last few years. This prob
lem has become quite acute" I"
Ihe said. mot terrifying, but
more than we noticed in the
past. How we settle that, ]
don't know
DR.. Blake S. Root, George
washington University profess
Isor of education. called for some
Ire thinking on some "educa-
Itional myths" including the one
that the teacher should be more
concerned about the education
lof children than the parent.
In a discussion Of legislation
affecting education here. Mrs.
Richard Radue. chairman Of the
Washington Committee on Leg
Iislation Of the National Congress
Iof Parents and Teachers. cited
1.-THE low Federal payllent to the
District as one factor.
Urges Health Planning
Mrs. Harold Keesiing. health
chairman of the PTA Congress,
urged that ETA l,nenlbei find
out the needs III heath lAnhing
land arouse and maintain the in
Iterest Of parents in school health
supervision.
Birch Bayh, director OF health
and physical education IN the
District Public Schools. called
flor alertness to attempts to re-
move from the school program
activities that prepare children
for constructive use Of leisure
time.
Lessons to be learned and prac-
lticed from the forthcoming
White House Conference on Edu-
cation are vital for every city.
town and hamlet in America. as
well as the District. Mrs. Henry
Jrattan Doyle asserted yesterday.
Mrs. Doyle is assistant to the
director of the conference. to be
held at the Sheraton Park Hotel.
November 28-December /.
Mrs. Doyle, former president
of the Board of Education here,
declared letters to conference
headquarters are constantly re-
Ivealing interest in education of
the gifted child through an en-
Iriched curriculum. The problem
ioI handicapped cnliQfen Will
also receive attention. she said.
Problem Of Teachers
How to get good teachers and
keep them win be one Of the
prime problems to be considered
lat the White House Conference,
Mrs. Doyle asserted.
The White House Conference
viii climax smaller conferences
held in the various States and
the District, Mrs. Doyle said.
She declared it win bring here
some 1000 delegates. She gave
this breakdown: 1.400 from the
States: 800 from national or
Iganizations; 800 chief school
Officials from the States and
members of Congress and 100
specially y-invited guests.