The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

September, 1951The Health Bulletin^ It is sincerely hoped that the personnelof the local health departmentand members of the medical professionwill continue to carry on the constructivematernal and child health programswhich have already achievedstartling results; that the local healthdepartments, Parent-Teachers Associations,and parents will re-double theirefforts to promote a sound programdesigned to induce a normal physicaland emotional development of the preschoolchild; and that everyone interestedin child welfare will continue togive enthusiastic support to a constructiveschool health program. In this way,it will be possible to achieve, for allpractical piirposes, the main objectiveof a joint school health program, namely,the development of a future citizenshipwhich is physically, intellectuallyand emotionally mature.THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINACOOPERATIVE SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMBy Charles E. Spencer, DirectorSchool Health Coordinating ServiceRaleigh, North CarolinaThe health of the school children ofNorth Carolina is a concern of manyagencies, organizations and individuals.Successful programs of school healthare, to a great degree, dependent uponthe extent to which those interestedcooperate.For thirty or more years the StateDepartment of Public Instruction andthe State Board of Health have workedtogether on school health programs ina limited and unofiBcial way.The first big step in the developmentof a jointly sponsored program beganwith the establishment of the SchoolHealth Coordinating Service as a jointenterprise of the State Board of Healthand the State Department of PublicInstruction. The Rockefeller Foundationand the General Education Board,assisted financially in the project fora period of eight years.Prom 1939 to 1947 the School HealthCoordinating Service operated largelyas a demonstration project in three tofive selected counties each year.During these years of demonstrationwork emphasis was placed on in-serviceeducation programs for local personnelin the areas of health instruction, tea-- cher screening, healthful school living(environmental sanitation) and physicaleducation.During this period of time consultantPservices to schools and health departmentswere offered by several divisionsof the State Board of Health and theState Department of Public Instructioneach one operating more or less independentlyof the other.Another step was taken in 1947 tobring about a more cooperative schoolhealth program. On May 29, 1947, theState Health Officer, Dr. Carl V. Reynolds,and the State Superintendent,Dr. Clyde A. Erwin, upon recommendationof the then Co -Director, Dr. C. P.Stevick and Charles E. Spencer andwith the advise of the Advisory SchoolHealth Committee changed the policiesgoverning the work of the SchoolHealth Coordinating Service. BeginningSeptember 1, 1947 this Division of theState Department of Public Instructionand the State Board of Health began tooffer its services to the State as a wholein the promotion of:1. Health and safety instruction inthe public schools.2. Better health facilities.3. A more extended health serviceprogram.4. Physical education in grades 1-12.The 1949 General Assembly providedthe "where-with-all" to make progressin a cooperative school health programon a state-wide basis on a scale notachieved in any other state in the Na-