Statement by Commissioner Of Education Earl McGrath

STA TEMENT* Poliomyelitis has become a health problem in this country which inevitably affects the schools. When the disease appears, educators must do what they can to cooperate in the fight against it, and to bring helpful information to families. One tangible way of accomplishing this purpose is to assist in the distribution of the annual message published by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. This spring 30,000,000 copies of a card entitled, "Polio Pointers for 1951," furnishing Do's and Don'ts have been issued for distribution throughout the schools. I hope that health in- structors will take advantage of this opportunity to incorporate this material as a part of their health education program for all children. I heartily advocate that administrators and teachers give all possible help to the National Foundation and its chapters in seeing that every pupil is given material to take home as part of a community health program. Each year polio epidemics cause a wave of anxiety to sweep across the nation. The policy of providing the public with an annual message of advice and reassurance has paid dividends in allaying fears and encouraging wise action. I believe this plan should receive the endorsement of all educators. *For publication in annual pamphlet distributed by the National 'oundation of Infantile Paralysis through the Nation's schools, by Earl J. McGrath, U.S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington 25, D.C., march 1951