Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-17
District Studies
Lag! in School
Health Sefup
5000 Pupils Awoit
Psychological Test;
Bocklog Is Growing
BY JAMES G. DEANE

launched a study of the city's
public school health program,
looking toward it's probable re-
organization and enlargement.
First attention. it was learned
yesterday. is being given to a
backlog Of approximately 5000
pupils referred by schools for
psychological examinations, but
who so far have not been given
them.
Officials are concerned because
these children. many Of whom
have serious learning or emo
tional problems, are not getting
attention. The new study will
seek to find out why the backlog
exists and what needs to be done
to correct it.
The study later will broaden
out to cover all school health
work. The full study, officials
said. probably will take year.
Analysts Are Assigned
The study is being conducted
by the District Government S
management office. which is
directed by William K. Holl
The office comes under the
supervision of Schuyler Lowe,
District general administration
director.
Mr.. Holl emphasized that the
project was undertaken at the
request OF the school system and
the Health Department. Manage
ment officials plan to work
closely with officials of the two
departments. he stressed.
Two analysts from the man.
agement office have been as
signed to the project full time
At present, they are making a
caSe-by-case pilot" study in
cooperation with the Adams
Elementary School, Nineteenth
and California streets NV, and
the oyster Elementary School,
Twenty-ninth and Calvert streets
NV.
More Schools to Be Checked
All cases referred by Adams
and Oyster to the school sys-
TENS pupil appraisal department
for psychological testing during
the last six months are being
checked individually. The aim
is to learn what happened to
each of them.
Later, similar checks will be
made at eight or 10 other
schools. including some junior
and senior high schools.
In the process of the case
check ups. the management ex-
perts are making a step-by-step
study Of the school systems re-
ferral procedures. 1t Is hoped
that these can be streamlined.
The school system has been
troubled by a growing backlog
OF psychological referrals for
several years. The pupil APP
praisal department itself ad-
ministers psychological tests, but
school officials have called the
testing staff too limited to keep
I'D with reoueStS
Personnel Shortage
The appraisal Office is short
handed both in psychologists and
in clerks, according to officials,
SO that even when tests have
been given there is often long
delay in processing reports on
them.
Equally serious, in the eyes OF
school officials. is the lack OF
adequate follow-up facilities to
provide treatment for pupils
shown by the tests to need it.
Only a relative handful OF
school children are able to OBJ
tain help in the city's few PSYCHE
atric clinics. according to off,
Gals. In many cases. pupils must
wait for months even to be
examined by a psychiatrist. The
Health Department offers prac-
tically no follow-up treatment
service.
These lacks have been given
increasing attention recently by
medical and health leaders. A
week ago the chairman of the
Commissioners Youth Council
DR.. Addison M. Duval, disclosed a
council proposal to draft an over
all blueprint for improving city
services. particularly with respect
to psychiatry. in a move to COM
bat delinquency.
Seek Expulsion Authority
Need for psychiatric services al
Juvenile Court, which now lackl
them. was pointed out at a re.
cent meeting Of the Citizens Ad.
visory Council. The Board o.
Education is currently consider.
ing the status Of extreme prob
lem-children. whom School Supt
Hobart M. Corning is seeking lie.
gal authority to expel.
The school health program /;
considered by some leaders Il
have other serious inadequacies
DR.. Ella Oppenheimer. who heads
the Health Departments Bureal
Of Child and Maternal Health
which embraces the school pro.
gram, said yesterday that nu-
merous improvements are needed
She cited needs for both add.
tional staff and more co-ordina.
ton.
DR.. Daniel l.. Finucane, new
health director, said the schoo
health program hasn't been up
dated for many years.
ITS time for review" h,
declared.