RURAL HEALTH PHYSICAL 195 



plies the lack. In the country, on the other hand, the farmers 

 must be persuaded to use their own resources to provide ade- 

 quately for the welfare of their families, and, most of all, for 

 their children. 



To carry this proposal for child betterment directly to the 

 country household would be inadvisable and ineffective; would 

 often arouse resentment. In this phase of human education the 

 direct approach to the home is much less feasible in the country 

 than in the city. The school is, however, the agency endowed by 

 every circumstance for the accomplishment of this great special 

 task of a higher civilization. 



After careful consideration of this serious problem of the 

 relatively deficient health of the children in rural schools, the 

 Health Committee of the National Council of Education, in 

 cooperation with the corresponding Health Committee of the 

 American Medical Association, strongly recommend the follow- 

 ing measures as a practical program for the solution of the dif- 

 ficulty : 



First Health examination and supervision of all rural school 

 children. 



Second The service of the school or district nurse to provide 

 the practical health service and follow-up work, which (it has 

 been so clearly demonstrated in our cities) can be best accom- 

 plished by the school nurse. The work of the nurse is even more 

 vitally important in rural than in city schools. 



Fourth Warm school lunches for all children in rural as well 

 as in city schools. The indirect educational benefits of the school 

 lunches upon the children and the homes are even more important 

 than the immediate health improvement of the children them- 

 selves. 



Fifth Correction of physical defects which are interfering 

 with the health, the general development and progress of rural 

 children. For this remedial and constructive health service, 

 practical rural equivalents of medical clinics, dental clinics and 

 community health centers of the cities are urgently needed in all 

 parts of the United States. The county unit organization and 

 administration for health as well as other rural interests has 

 already proved successful and promises the best results. Every 



