USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1906-1908 > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
-197-
Cornish School.
GRADE.
Addie L. Bartlett, principal.
8. Frances E. Bagnell.
6. Annie D. Dunham.
6. Laura M. Whitney.
ɔ̃. Clara E. Campbell.
5. Harriet J. Johnson.
3. Margaret Longfellow.
2. Alice B. Smith. 1. Elizabeth H. Felker.
Mount Pleasant School.
GRADE.
7-8. Samuel A. Cragin, principal.
6.
Nancy S. Allen.
5.
Grace L. Knight.
4.
Leella F. Barnes.
3.
Annie M. Frost.
1-2.
Lizzie E. Mitchell.
Mount Pleasant Primary.
GRADE.
1. Grace N. Bramhall. 2. Grace R. Moore. 1-5. Ethel Neal.
*
Chiltonville.
GRADE. 6-9. Willa H. Ferguson. 1-5. S. Agnes Safford. 1-5. Kate W. Sampson. 1-5. Mary A. Morton.
-198-
Manomet.
GRADE.
6-9. Irene F. Hazen. 1-5. Grace Farrington.
Vallerville.
UNGRADED.
Rebecca Robbins.
Cedarville.
UNGRADED.
Sarah H. Paty.
Long Pond.
UNGRADED.
Lida M. Bassett.
South Pond.
UNGRADED.
Martha F. Burke.
MUSIC.
Lottie T. Baker.
DRAWING.
Marion F. Holmes.
SLOYD.
Della M. Carlen.
SCHOOLS
Boys
Girls
Belonging Average Number
Average Daily
Attendance
Per Cent of
Attendance
Total Days Absence
Tardiness Number Cases
Number Cases Dis-
Number Cases
Times Teacher was
Absent
Times Teacher was
Number Visits Made
Number Visits Made by
School Committee
Visits Made by Parents and others
High School
61
87
139.5
136.0
97.5
679
172
143
0
1
0
29
87
Ninth Grade
60
56
: 113.4
109.4
96.5
776
146
55
2
0
0
36
11
Knapp
220
195
389.6
370 9
95.2
3605
315
70
11
1
195
31
359
No. Primary
59
59
119.9
110.4
92.6
1699
171
21
9
4
0
17
4
59
Cornish District Primary
111
100
205.6
193.6
94.2
235
443
74
2
35
50
95
19
335
Cornish School
182
174
323.8
304.4
94.0
375%
468
176
6
24
16
125
27
364
Burton
78
86
155.0
146.9
04.1
1577
208
100
4
4
145
13
255
Mt. Pleasant District
39
61
85 2
79 3
93.2
1147
144
70
2
12
60
6
223
Mt. Pleasant School
112
145
250.5
234.0
93.4
3371
453
168
5
2
207
33
284
Chiltonville
45
52
89.9
83 3
92.7
1225
399
27
2
A
1
37
3
141
Vallerville
6
6
11.0
9.3
85.0
240
26
0
0
-2
00
14
3
4
Long Pond
1
2
8.4
6 9
82.1
142
35
0
0
0
8
2
Manomet
38
36
66.3
62.1
93.7
1000
462
34
11
8
0
19
9
111
Totals
1029
1066
1970.1
1857.5
94.3
19638
3522
948
55
134
89
1329
166
2252
-199-
Total enroll-) ment
Tardy
by Supt.
-1-2
2
12
Cedarville
S
12.0
11.0
91.7
190
80
5
1
200
12
ac cro.
missal
Truancy
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1908.
During the past twelve months, [the first complete year of medical inspection in our schools,] practically the same methods described in the previous reports covering seven months of 1907 have been employed, with such slight changes as experience sug- gested would be helpful.
While figures will not tell the whole of the story of the year's work, they may perhaps serve to give quickly a general idea of what has been done and call attention to some of the points up- on which it may be helpful to say a few words in particular.
The following tabular view is arranged from the reports which are submitted to the school committee by the school physician on the first of each month of the school year.
Visits
Personal Examin- ations
Permits issued by issued by Permits other School Physician Phy'cians
Notices sent to Parents
Pupils sent home
No. of diseases & diseas. cond'ions
Jan.
16
103
48
10
60
21
115
Feb.
16
115
27
8
33
16
57
March
12
97
16
7
28
8
54
April
16
115
24
8
27
11
64
May
13
292
185
34
19
22
37
June
11
164
93
8
11
10
48
Sept.
14
99
13
1
32
9
70
Oct.
15
78
16
1
21
8
48
Nov.
14
129
27
1
45
12
61
Dec.
13
93
20
1
37
8
62
Total
140
1285
469
79
313
125
616
-
.
-201-
The large number of pupils examined during the month of May was due to an epidemic of German measles when two hun- dred and nineteen permits were issued as required by statute, one hundred and eighty-five by the school physician, and thirty- four by other physicians, readmitting pupils to the schools. There are naturally a number who apply for readmission during an epidemic of contagious disease, who are still in a condition to impart it to others, and much vigilance is necessary on the part of the teachers in excluding them, as the cause of absence is of- ten carefully concealed. The natural, even commendable, de- sire on the part of teachers to show a good attendance should not prevent them from making a thorough investigation as to the cause of a pupil's absence from school.
Of the three hundred and thirteen notices which were sent to parents, calling attention to diseased conditions found among the children of our public schools, probably the majority were disregarded for a number of reasons, among which are lack of means to procure treatment and sometimes indifference. But if even a few have profited by the suggestions contained in these notices, as we have positive assurance that they have, it has cer- tainly been worth while to make these few children healthier, happier and more useful members of the community.
The total number of pupils which it was found necessary to exclude from school (125) during the year, most of them for a few days only, is not large when we remember that there are over two thousand pupils in the public schools. Most of these children were in a condition to infect others, so that by their prompt expulsion until cured, the health and therefore the at- tendance of the schools has been benefited.
It is an interesting fact that the figures in the column of diseases and diseased conditions seems to endorse an idea which I have heard expressed by two persons engaged in educational work but in widely different positions, namely that the children are healthier when attending school. It would of course be rash to place too much confidence in figures covering so short a period
-202-
but the coincidence is at least curious for it will be seen that the two months following the longest recesses show the greatest number of diseases; one hundred and fifteen in January and seventy in September.
It will be noticed by referring to the list of diseases at the end of the report that the diseased condition which the school phy- sician most frequently meets, is dental caries and by reason of its frequency it is perhaps the most important. In some schools it is so rare to find a sound set of teeth that when met it occa- sions surprise. Public indifference to this condition is amazing, even among the better class. Poisonous masses of filth are al- lowed to accumulate in the cavities of decaying teeth which would not be tolerated for a moment elsewhere. Some children seem to be strong enough to overcome the poison. but others, less robust, are seriously handicapped by the constant infection of the whole system caused by the absorption of this bacteria-laden material when carried to the stomach with the food. These un- fortunate children suffer from loss of appetite, are pale and poorly nourished and show greater susceptibility to the attacks of prevalent diseases, while the poisoned blood renders the brain incapable of properly performing the tasks required of it for the accomplishment of the ordinary work of the schools and they fall behind their better cared for and healthier companions.
The condition of the first set or milk teeth seems to be less a matter of concern than that of the permanent set, because they so soon fall out, but it seems reasonable to suppose that the younger a child is the more susceptible it will be to the harmful products of decomposition which are the result of decaving teeth, whether of the first or second set. The day is rapidly ap- proaching when public sentiment will be aroused in this mat- ter as it has been to the correction of errors of refraction. In the meantime. however, many children must arrive at maturity permanently crippled in the struggle for existence by years of poisoning which might easily have been avoided.
The next largest item in the list of diseases encountered in
-203-
the past year is the untidy skin affection known to the profession as impetigo contagiosa, and usually spoken of by the laity as "fruit sores" or "cold sores," the latter term applying more properly to a form of herpes which it somewhat resembles. This affection, as its name implies, is highly contagious, but aside from its revolting appearance when large areas are in- volved, is not of serious import. It is fortunately quite amen- able to treatment, but as it occurs most often among those who are careless in personal matters, it is frequently difficult to ob- tain any improvement and pupils must be excluded for weeks when a few days would suffice if proper treatment were applied. As in the case of head-lice this neglect is frequently due not so much to carelessness as to ignorance of proper remedial meas- ures and inability to get competent advice. Possibly a card such as is issued in the case of head-lice, describing a simple and effective method of treatment for this affection might be pro- ductive of an equal amount of good.
Probably no defect occurring with equal frequency with which the school physician comes in contact threatens the future use- fulness of the pupil more than the interference with the nasal respiration caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids producing the well-known symptom of mouth-breathing. This obstruction to natural breathing alters the development of the parts, even changing the shape and size of the bones if neglected, produc- ing a facial expression which is the outward sign of the mental deficiency to which it leads. Fortunately the laity are quite thoroughly aroused to the dangers arising from this condition and comparatively few cases are neglected.
The improper seating arrangements existing in many of the schools, to which attention was called in the previous report, still remain, nothing have been done in the past year to remedy them.
As the school buildings become larger, three or four hundred children being cared for under one roof, the common drinking cup becomes an obvious source of danger, and it is to be hoped
-204-
that at least our larger school buildings will be provided with some sort of sanitary drinking fountain in the near future. Should it not be deemed wise to install the sanitary drinking fountains at present, waxed paper cups can be purchased in quantity for a small fraction of a cent apiece. These cups could be thrown away after having been used by the pupil, thus avoid- ing the slightest possibility of contagion.
The following diseases have been found among the children of the public schools during the past year :
Pediculosis, 63.
Scabies, 11.
Impetigo contagiosa, ?8.
Other skin diseases, 51.
Measles, 3.
Rotheln, 20. Varicella, 7.
Adenoids, 54.
Enlarged tonsils, 75.
Decayed teeth, 104.
Other diseases of the oral and respiratory tract, 24.
Conjunctivitis, 23.
Other diseases of the eye, 23.
Purulent middle ear disease, 4.
Wounds, abrasions, etc., 12.
Septic wounds, 4.
Mental deficiency, 2.
Spinal curvature, 3.
Enuresis, ganglion, and suppurating gland, each one.
Thirty-three children have been referred to the school physi- cian for verification or correction of results by teachers making the test for eyesight required by statute, and 10 children for the same purpose by teachers making a similar test for hearing.
Respectfully submitted,
J. HOLBROOK SHAW, M. D. School Physician.
NON-CIRCULATING
W ELLS BINDERY INC. ALTHAM, MASS. NOV. 1960
H. Ra
.
1
3
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.