MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS 



The principle here involved is that routine medical inspec- 

 tion and physical examinations are primarily established to insure 

 the health and vitality of the individual child and are preferably 

 conducted by the school authorities who are charged with his 

 daily care. The curbing of epidemics of contagious disease is 

 primarily for the protection of the community, and in this the 

 health authorities have the right as well as the duty to intervene. 

 Examples of such provisions as those suggested are to be found 

 in the laws of North Dakota and Ohio. 



2. Provision for inspection by school physicians to detect and ex- 

 clude cases of contagious disease. 



3. Provision for annual examinations of all children by school phy- 

 sicians to detect any physical defects which may prevent the children 

 from receiving the full benefit of their school work or which may re- 

 quire that the work be modified to avoid injury to them. 



This second provision should include the requirement that 

 parents be notified of any defects discovered. 



4. Provision that annual tests of vision and hearing shall be con- 

 ducted by the teachers. 



This provision was adopted by Massachusetts on the advice 

 of the specialists in these fields and its wisdom has been demon- 

 strated by extensive experience in that state. 



5. Provision that the school physicians may conduct examina- 

 tions of teachers and janitors and shall make regular inspections of the 

 buildings, premises, and drinking water to insure their sanitary condition. 



6. Provision that pupils in normal schools shall receive training in 

 conducting vision and hearing tests. 



This requirement is found in the Massachusetts law and the 

 Minnesota regulations. 



7. Provision for the employment of school nurses. 



This is provided for in the laws of Connecticut, Ohio, 

 Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. 



8. Provision for the enforcement of the law. 



Such provisions, not very well developed, are found in the 

 laws of Colorado, Indiana, and New Jersey. The nature of the 



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