312 THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH

7. The Ohio Conservation Bulletin, Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Monthly, 25 cents.

VI. EVALUATING DEVICES A. Prepare a written examination. The instructor would have the

opportunity to construct various questions concerning such know- ledge as: 1. Safety 2. Understanding of the parts of a gun. 3. Differentiating between game and song birds. 4. State Game and Hunting Regulations Observations of the students’ demonstrated ability on the firing

range or in the field, including such matters as: 1. Proper gun handling. 2. Proper position. 3. Accuracy of shooting.

C. Schedule individual conferences. The instructor will find it useful to hold an individual conference with each student to discuss the weak and strong points of his performance and knowledge, and give suggestions for his improvement.

B.

* * * * * THE PTA ASSISTS IN RESOLVING

PUPIL HEALTH PROBLEMS MILDRED THOMPSON, M.A.

Coordilzator, Health Seruices, Palo Alto Unijied School District Palo Alto, Calif. .

Most school personnel have experienced the frustration of suspecting or identifying health problems in pupils and then being faced with their inability to obtain a professional evaluation or treatment. Too often residency requirements, rigid financial limitations or a lack of community facilities make it impossible to refer a child to any resource other than professionals in private practice. If parents can afford this kind of care, referrals to private practice not only can but should be made. Unfor- tunately there are still numbers of pupils whose families are, “too poor to pay for it and too rich to get i t for nothing”.

Since 1956 the Palo Alto Council of Parents and Teachers has provided a means whereby the majority of pupils with health or welfare problems may obtain care even though families are ineligible for community re- sources and are unable to pay for it. Article I, Section I, of the Palo Alto PTA Council welfare policy expresses a dedication to the proposition that the health and welfare of children are of paramount importance in enabling them to secure maximum advantages from their education. It was this dedication which prompted the formation of the PTA Council Student Welfare Committee.

Seven PTA council and two school representatives comprise the com- mittee. Other school personnel occasionally serve as advisors but do not have voting privileges. Meetings are scheduled once each month to review applications and consider reports on over-all community problems. Funds are derived from a per capita assessment based upon the current student enrollment in each unit. The amount of assessment is recom-

THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 313

mended annually by the committee and approved by each unit but in no case does a unit contribute more than forty dollars per year. The original 8# assessment in 1956 has been reduced gradually and for several years 2 to 4# per pupil has been adequate. With approximately 14,500 pupils in the district, the committee feels that the fund should show a balance of no less than $500.00 and no more than $1,500.00.

Applications are initiated by various school personnel and are identi- fied by a code number with no reference to the name of the pupil. Prior to submission the referring individual makes every effort to obtain an accurate appraisal of the family’s financial status and attempts to seek assistance from an existing agency. In all cases, parents are encouraged to repay part or all of the grant if possible.

From its inception the committee has accepted broad responsibilities. In order to protect the expenditure of PTA funds it has been necessary for members to; (1) have a thorough knowledge of existing community resources, (2) appraise accurately the family’s need for assistance, and (3) limit its expenditures to pupils from schools whose units contribute to the fund. Although the committee considers all applications submitted, disposition may result in; (1) further investigation, (2) referral to com- munity resources, (3) acceptance for payment, or (4) denial of assistance.

Because of limited funds long term therapy programs such as ortho- dontia and psychiatric therapy cannot be undertaken. Even so the atten- tion of the committee has been focused upon many different kinds of problems. Referrals for dental care have been numerous. Double school lunches were purchased for a pupil with cystic fibrosis. In two cases, surgeons and anaesthesiologists donated their services and addi- tional expenses were paid by the committee. Several physical and psychological evaluations have been authorized for pupils with achieve- ment problems after school psychologists exhausted their resources in attempting to determine whether the primary difficulty was neurological or psychological. Senior high school pupils enrolled in the program for the mentally retarded have been referred for extensive physical, psycho- logical and vocational evaluations in order to plan realistic work pro- grams for them.

It is not difficult to see the relationship between these kinds of prob- lems, and their effect on a child’s education. One cannot pretend that a student welfare committee solves all problems, but in any district, whether the fund is $5.00 or $5,000.00 one or more pupils will benefit from its existence.

* * * * *

Pamphlet Rack Offered by AMA-A health education pamphlet rack for use in physicians’ reception and other waiting rooms is available to doctors from the Ameri- can Medical Association.

The rack will hold eight different pamphlets, and the initial purchase of the rack will include a set of 25 coDies each of einht me-selected health education DamDhlets.

1 -

Cost of the rack and initial set of 2 b pamphlets is $8.95. Replacement pamphlets and an increasing list of new pamphlets designed to fit

in the racks are also available. Further information on the sale of the racks and pamphlets may be obtained by physicians from: AMA Order Department, 535 North Dearborn, Chicago 10, Illinois.