Stressing the importance of a health examination for every child entering school, Dr. Fred K. Lam, director of the bureau of maternal and infant hygiene, presented tentative plans for the 1937 school health examinations program at a special committee meeting held Wednesday at the board of health office.

School health examinations will be urged throughout the summer. The committee in charge will solicit the aid and cooperation of PTA units, schools and the press in an endeavor to encourage all parents to have their children examined by the family physician during the summer months instead of just before entering school.

Physicians in Honolulu again will be asked to assist in the examinations and a fee of $2.50 will be charged, as in past years, according to Dr. Lam.

"There are 33 elementary public schools in Honolulu, with an annual enrollment of 19,908," said Dr. Lam, "and of this group about 3,400 to 4,000 are beginners who are required to have a complete physical examination upon entering school. The examination will include diphtheria immunization and smallpox vaccination whenever necessary."

Since children entering school will have to present their birth certificates, the board of health is urging all parents whose children have no certificates to apply for them early in the summer at the board of health office in order (to) lessen the confusion before school opens. …

The social service bureau again will aid in the program by certifying dependent families, who are unable to afford a private physician. …

Others present were Dr. F.E. Trotter, president of the board of health; Miss Theodora A. Floyd, Miss Amy MacOwan, Theodore R. Rhea, Miss Nell Findley and Mrs. I Crutchfield.

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Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.