National Child Labor Committee
103 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK CITY
New York, November 22, 1918
To the members of the Board of Trustees,
National Child Labor Committee:
One of the first states to make a definite outline of plan for physical examination of working children is Wisconsin. In a conference with the Governor this week we have laid before him a plan which in brief is as follows:
"1. All supervision to be under the State Superintendent of Schools. In this office to be one State director of attendance and one director of hygiene.
2. A county truant officer to take the place of the sheriff, a county nurse, a physician for at least every 5,000 children. Truant officer $100 per month; nurse $100 per month and physician according to need.
3. The entire work to be supported by state tax. All employees appointed from civil service lists by the State Superintendent and subject to his removal.
4. (a) Compulsory physical examination for all children upon entering school, and as often thereafter as nurse deems wise. A continuous cross-referenced record to be kept at the school where the child attends.
4. (b) An employment certificate good only for a single employment. A physical examination before each work permit is granted and a [reexamination] every six months. No work permit to be granted unless the child is physically fit, the question of the work to be determined by the doctor."
This plan is worked out with the [cooperation] of the School Attendance Officers in Milwaukee and has the approval of the Industrial Board. Mr. Gibbons has negotiated the matter for us.
At the same time Mr. Swift reports that Nebraska is incorporating this feature in a Children's Code being worked out for the State, and Mr. Clopper reports that the Children's Code Commission of Missouri has definitely made this a part of its program.
If you have any suggestions or criticisms of the above outline kindly advise us.
Sincerely yours,
Owen R. Lovejoy [signed]
General Secretary
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