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Medical Assisting Review: Passing The CMA, RMA, and CCMA Exam 7th Edition Jahangir Moini full chapter instant download
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REVIEW
Passing the CMA, RMA, CCMA, and NCMA Exams
SeventhEdition
ISTUDY
Final PDF to printer
Published by McGraw Hill LLC, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10121. Copyright © 2022
by McGraw Hill LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this
publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or
retrieval system, without the prior written consent of McGraw Hill LLC, including, but not limited to, in
any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning.
Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers outside
the United States.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 LOV 26 25 24 23 22 21
ISBN 978-1-260-59793-6
MHID 1-260-59793-8
All credits appearing on page or at the end of the book are considered to be an extension of the
copyright page.
The Internet addresses listed in the text were accurate at the time of publication. The inclusion of a
website does not indicate an endorsement by the authors or McGraw Hill LLC, and McGraw Hill LLC
does not guarantee the accuracy of the information presented at these sites.
mheducation.com/highered
Dr. Moini was assistant professor at Tehran University School of Medicine for nine years, teaching medical and allied health stu-
dents. The author was a professor and former director (for 24 years) of allied health programs at Everest University. Dr. Moini rees-
tablished the Medical Assisting Program in 1990 at Everest University’s Melbourne campus. He also established several other new
allied health programs for Everest University. He is now a retired professor of science and health at Eastern Florida State College.
Dr. Moini was a physician liaison for the Florida Society of Medical Assistants 2000–2008. He has been a marketing strategy
team member of the National AAMA and president of the Brevard County chapter of the AAMA. He is the author of 43 published
textbooks since 1999. His book entitled “Anatomy & Physiology for Health Professionals” has been translated into Japanese and
South Korean, and released in those countries.
Dedication
To the memory of my Mother,
and
To my wonderful wife,
Hengameh, my two daughters,
Mahkameh and Morvarid,
and also to my precious granddaughters,
Laila Jade and Anabelle Jasmine Mabry.
ISTUDY
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ix
SECTION 1 General Medical Assisting Knowledge 1
Chapter 1 The Profession of Medical Assisting 2
Chapter 2 Medical Terminology 12
Chapter 3 Anatomy and Physiology 42
Chapter 4 Pathophysiology 75
Chapter 5 Microbiology 92
Chapter 6 General Psychology 104
Chapter 7 Nutrition and Health Promotion 114
Chapter 8 Medical Law and Ethics 126
SECTION 2 Administrative Medical Assisting Knowledge 160
Chapter 9 Reception, Correspondence, Mail, Telephone Techniques, and Supplies 161
Chapter 10 Appointments, Scheduling, Medical Records, Filing, Policies, and Procedures 180
Chapter 11 Communication in the Medical Office 192
Chapter 12 Keyboarding and Computer Applications 202
Chapter 13 Financial Management 212
Chapter 14 Medical Insurance 233
Chapter 15 Medical Coding 249
SECTION 3 Clinical Medical Assisting Knowledge 284
Chapter 16 Blood-Borne Pathogens and Principles of Asepsis 285
Chapter 17 Preparing the Patient 296
Chapter 18 Vital Signs and Measurement 316
Chapter 19 Pharmacology 326
Chapter 20 Administration of Medication 352
Chapter 21 Electrocardiography 370
Chapter 22 Diagnostic Imaging 381
Chapter 23 Promoting Healing After an Injury 391
Chapter 24 Medical Emergencies and First Aid 403
Chapter 25 Clinical Laboratory 421
PRACTICE EXAMS 471
Practice Exam 1 - CMA 472
Practice Exam 2 - RMA 485
Practice Exam 3 - CCMA 496
Practice Exam 4 - NCMA 504
ANSWER KEYS TO END OF CHAPTER QUESTIONS 514
ANSWER KEY TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 522
ANSWER KEY TO PRACTICE EXAM 524
INDEX 527
iv
ISTUDY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ISTUDY
Chapter 7 – Nutrition and Health Promotion 114 11.2 The Communication Cycle 193
7.1 Nutrition 115 11.3 Types of Communication 194
7.2 Water 115 11.4 Improving Your Communication Skills 194
7.3 Carbohydrates 115 11.5 Communicating in Special Circumstances 196
7.4 Lipids 115 11.6 Communicating with
7.5 Protein 116 Coworkers and Superiors 198
7.6 Vitamins 116 11.7 Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout 198
7.7 Minerals 118 11.8 The Policy and Procedures Manual 198
7.8 Nutrition and Diet Needs 119 Chapter 11 Review 200
7.9 Food-Related Diseases 122 Chapter 12 – Keyboarding and Computer
Chapter 7 Review 123 Applications 202
Chapter 8 – Medical Law and Ethics 126 12.1 The Computer Revolution 203
8.2 The Law and Medicine 129 12.3 Computer Systems 203
9.2 Managing Correspondence and Mail 162 14.2 Types of Health Insurance 235
9.3 Telephone Techniques 173 14.3 Types of Health Plans 236
9.4 Supplies and Equipment in the 14.4 Determination of Benefits 240
Medical Office 175 14.5 Claims Processing 240
9.5 Travel Arrangements 176 Chapter 14 Review 246
9.6 Patient Education 176 Chapter 15 – Medical Coding 249
Chapter 9 Review 177 15.1 Data and Billing Basics 250
Chapter 10 – Appointments, Scheduling, 15.2 Basic Coding 251
Medical Records, Filing, Policies,
15.3 Diagnosis Codes: The ICD-10-CM 251
and Procedures 180
15.4 Procedure Codes 255
10.1 Appointments and Schedules 181
15.5 Comparison of ICD-9-CM
10.2 Medical Records and Filing 184
and ICD-10-CM 257
10.3 Policies and Procedures 188
15.6 HCPCS 257
Chapter 10 Review 189
15.7 Avoiding Fraud 257
Chapter 11 – Communication in the
Medical Office 192 Chapter 15 Review 260
vi TA BL E OF C ON T E N T S
ISTUDY
Section 2 CCMA REVIEW 269 20.2 Measuring Medication
Section 2 NCMA REVIEW 272 and Dosage Calculations 354
Section 2 Test Your Knowledge – 20.3 Methods of Administering Medications 357
Administrative 275 20.4 Setting Up Medications 362
20.5 Vaccinations 362
Section 3 Clinical Medical Chapter 20 Review 367
Assisting Knowledge 284
Chapter 21 – Electrocardiography 370
Chapter 16 – Blood-Borne Pathogens and
Principles of Asepsis 285 21.1 The Electrical System of the Heart 371
16.2 Medical and Surgical Asepsis 288 21.3 Other Tests 376
ISTUDY
Chapter 25 – Clinical Laboratory 421 Practice Exams 471
25.1 Collecting and Testing Blood 423 Practice Exam 1 - CMA 472
25.2 Collecting and Testing Urine 437 Practice Exam 2 - RMA 485
25.3 Medical Microbiology 443 Practice Exam 3 - CCMA 496
Chapter 25 Review 448 Practice Exam 4 - NCMA 504
Section 3 CMA Review 450 Answer Keys to End of Chapter Questions 514
Section 3 RMA Review 453
Answer Key to Test Your Knowledge 522
Section 3 CCMA Review 456
Section 3 NCMA Review 459 Answer Key To Practice Exam 524
v i i i TA BL E OF C ON T E N T S
ISTUDY
Rev. Confirming Pages
PREFACE
Catching your success has never been easier, with the sixth edition of Medical Assisting Review: Passing the CMA, RMA, CCMA, and
NCMA Exams. Confidently master the competencies you need for certification with a user-friendly approach and various practice
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Instructor’s Manual Each chapter has:
• Learning Outcomes and Lecture Outline
• Overview of PowerPoint Presentations
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• Answer Keys for End-of-Chapter Questions and two Practice Exams from the back of the book
• List of Additional Resources
PowerPoint Presentations • Key Concepts
Electronic Test Bank • TestGen (computerized)
(Two Practice Exams) • Word version
• These two exams are also available in the Library tab of Connect. Both of them, along with 12
additional exams, are available within Connect.
• Questions are tagged with learning outcomes, level of difficulty, level of Bloom’s taxonomy,
feedback, and ABHES and CAAHEP competencies.
Tools to Plan Course • Transition Guide, by chapter, from Moini, 6e, to Moini, 7e
• Correlations of the chapters to the major accrediting bodies (previously included in the book),
as well as correlations by learning outcomes to ABHES and CAAHEP
• Sample Syllabi
• Asset Map—a recap of the key instructor resources, as well as information on the content avail-
able through Connect
A few things to note: office procedures, application of medical knowledge, and appli-
• All student content is now available to be assigned cation of privacy and liability regulation. An ideal way to engage,
through Connect. excite, and prepare students to be successful on the job, Practice
• Instructors can share the answer keys and test bank Medical Office is available for use on tablets and computers.
exams available through the Instructor Resources at It is perfect for the capstone Medical Assisting Examination
their discretion. Preparation course, and Externship course, or may be used
throughout the Medical Assisting program. PMO is accessible
Need help? Contact McGraw-Hill’s Customer Experience
through a widget in Connect. For a demo of Practice Medical
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and Administrative Check Out. As the players progress through results with our Digital Success Team—ready to provide
each module, they will face realistic situations and learning in-person, remote, or on-demand training as needed.
events, which will test their mastery of critical job-readiness • Peer Support and Training: No one understands your
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x PR E FAC E
ISTUDY
digital users by joining our Connect Community, or Get started today. Learn more about McGraw-Hill Education’s
speak directly with one of our digital faculty consultants. Digital Success Programs by contacting your local sales
• Online Training Tools: Get immediate anytime, any- representative.
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New remote proctoring and browser-locking capabilities, hosted by Proctorio within Connect, provide control of the assessment envi-
ronment by enabling security options and verifying the identity of the student.
Seamlessly integrated within Connect, these services allow instructors to control students’ assessment experience by restricting
browser activity, recording students’ activity, and verifying students are doing their own work.
Instant and detailed reporting gives instructors an at-a-glance view of potential academic integrity concerns, thereby avoiding per-
sonal bias and supporting evidence-based claims.
ISTUDY
Instructors: Student Success Starts with You
Tools to enhance your unique voice
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ISTUDY
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ISTUDY
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Suggestions have been received from faculty and students throughout the country. This is vital feedback that is relied on for product
development. Each person who has offered comments and suggestions has our thanks. The efforts of many people are needed to
develop and improve a product. Among these people are the reviewers and consultants who point out areas of concern, cite areas of
strength, and make recommendations for change. In this regard, the following instructors provided feedback that was enormously
helpful in preparing the manuscript.
xiv
ISTUDY
Rev. Confirming Pages
Kathy Gaeng, AOS in Bus Mgmt, MA, RMA, Red Cross Melissa M. Rub, BA, CMA (AAMA)
Instructor, Proctor-NCCT, Burdick Cert. Rasmussen College
Vatterott College Deborah Wuethrick, MBA/HR, AMT, CPT, CMAA, NHA,
Cindy Gordon, MBA, CMA (AAMA) BLS, AHA
Baker College Computer Systems Institute
Gary L. Hayes, MD
ECPI University
Pamela Hurst, CMA/AC (AAMA), AS
Ridley-Lowell Business and Technical Institute
SYMPOSIA
Christina Ivey, NRCMA, BSHS/M
Centura College An enthusiastic group of trusted faculty members active in this
course area attended symposia to provide crucial feedback.
Karlene Jaggan, NRAHA, PN, BIT
Centura College Sandra Brightwell, RHIA
Hunter Jones, PhD RN Central Arizona College
Virginia College Linda Buchanan-Anderson, RN, BSN, RMA (AMT)
Angela LeuVoy, AAMA, CCMA, CMA, CMRS Central Arizona College
Fortis College William Travis Butler, RMA, MHA
G. Martinez, BS (HSO), MS (HA), Cert. Medical Billing ECPI University
Wichita Technical Institute Mohammed Y. Chowdhury, MBBS, MPH, CCA (AHIMA),
M. McGuire, RN CBCS (NHA), CAHI (AMT)
Wichita Technical Institute Lincoln Technical Institute
Lori Mikell, RMA, AHI Kristy Comeaux, CMA, CPT, EKG
Ridley-Lowell Business and Technical Institute Delta College
Mariela Nale, CMA, RPT Amanda Davis-Smith, NCMA, AHI, CPC
Centura College Jefferson Community and Technical College
Sherry Nemconsky, CMA
Marylou de Roma-Ragaza, BSN, MSN, RN
Ridley-Lowell Business and Technical Institute
Lincoln Educational Services
Shauna Phillips, CCMA, CPT, CET, CMT
Kathy Gaeng, RMA, CAHI
Fortis College
Vatterott College
Sharmalan Sathiyaseelan, MD, RMA
Karlene Jaggan, PN, NRCAHA, BIT
Sanford-Brown Institute
Centura College
Lucy Schultz, BBA, NCICS
Dorsey Schools Jennifer B. Kubetin, CEHR
Branford Hall Career Institute
Dale Schwartz, RMA
Sanford-Brown Institute Cheryl A. Kuck, BS, CMA (AAMA)
Rhodes State College
LaShawn Smalls, DC
Virginia College Lynnae Lockett, RN, RMA, MSN
Bryant & Stratton College
Amy Voytek
Westmoreland College Marta Lopez, MD, LM, CPM, RMA, BMO
Miami Dade College – Medical Campus
Kasey Waychoff, CMA, CPT
Centura College Carrie A. Mack, CMA (AAMA)
Branford Hall Career Institute
Andrea Weymouth, CMA, NCCT, RMA
Ridley-Lowell Business and Technical Institute Nanci Milbrath, AAS, CMA (AAMA)
Pine Technical College
Deborah Wuethrick, MBA/HR, AMT, CPT, CMAA, NHA,
BLS, AHA Corina Miranda, CMPC-I, CPC
Computer Systems Institute Kaplan College
Deborah Zenzal, RN, BSN, MS, CPC, CCS-P, RMA Angela M. B. Oliva, BS, CMRS
Penn Foster College Heald College and Boston Reed College
x v i AC K NOW L E D G M E N T S
ISTUDY
GENERAL MEDICAL SECTION 1
ASSISTING
KNOWLEDGE
SECTION OUTLINE
ISTUDY
CHAPTER 1
THE PROFESSION OF
MEDICAL ASSISTING
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1.1 Describe the administrative, clinical, and 1.5 Explain the requirements for obtaining
specialized duties of a medical assistant. and maintaining the CCMA credential.
1.2 List the benefits of a medical assisting program. 1.6 Describe the subject areas covered by the NCMA
1.3 Identify the different types of credentials exam.
available to medical assistants through 1.7 Describe the purpose and benefits of the extern
examination. experience.
1.4 List the three areas of knowledge included 1.8 Describe the personal attributes of a professional
in the CMA and RMA exams. medical assistant.
General/Legal/Professional
Respond to and initiate written communications
by using correct grammar, spelling, and formatting
techniques X X X X
Recognize and respond to verbal and nonverbal
c ommunications by being attentive and adapting com-
munication to the recipient’s level of understanding X X X X
Be aware of and perform within legal and ethical
boundaries X X X X
Demonstrate knowledge of and monitor current federal
and state health-care legislation and regulations; main-
tain licenses and accreditation X X X X
Exercise efficient time management X X X X
Project a positive attitude X X X
ISTUDY
MEDICAL ASSISTING COMPETENCIES (cont.)
General/Legal/Professional
Be a “team player” X X X
Exhibit initiative X X X
Adapt to change X X X
Project a responsible attitude X X X
Be courteous and diplomatic X X X
Conduct work within scope of education, training,
and ability X X X X
Be impartial and show empathy when dealing with
patients X X X
Understand allied health professions and credentialing X X X
1.1 The Profession of Medical • Coding for specific procedures and tests when filling out
lab requests
Assisting • Collecting payments and speaking with patients about
Medical assisting is one of the most versatile health-care profes- collection policies
sions. Men and women can be equally successful as medical
assistants. They are able to work in a variety of administrative Clinical duties: Medical assistants’ clinical duties vary accord-
and clinical positions within health care. According to the U.S. ing to state law. They may include the following:
Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, medi- • Maintaining asepsis and controlling infection
cal assisting is one of the 10 fastest growing occupations.
• Preparing the examination and treatment areas
• Interviewing patients and documenting patients’ vital
The Duties of a Medical Assistant signs and medical histories
Medical assistants are skilled health-care professionals who • Preparing patients for examinations and explaining treat-
work primarily in ambulatory settings such as medical offices ment procedures
and clinics. The duties a medical assistant may perform include
• Assisting the physician during examinations
administrative and clinical duties.
Administrative duties: Administrative medical assisting duties • Disposing of contaminated supplies
include the following: • Performing diagnostic tests, such as electrocardiograms
(ECGs)
• Greeting patients
• Giving injections (where allowed by law)
• Handling correspondence
• Performing first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Scheduling appointments
(CPR)
• Answering telephones
• Preparing and administering medications as directed
• Communicating with patients, families, and coworkers by the physician, and following state laws for invasive
• Creating and maintaining patient medical records procedures
• Handling billing, bookkeeping, and insurance claim • Removing sutures or changing wound dressings
form processing • Sterilizing medical instruments
• Performing medical transcription • Assisting patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, as
• Arranging for hospital admissions and testing well as patients with hearing or vision impairments or
procedures physical or mental disabilities
• Organizing and managing office supplies • Educating patients
• Explaining treatment procedures to patients Medical assistants’ clinical duties may also include process-
• Educating patients ing various laboratory tests. Medical assistants may prepare the
CHAPTER 1 /
ISTUDY
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
Miss Forbes might pleasantly have answered Karl, that the
ceremony to which he objected is a conventionalized expression of
the regard men have for women. “You love your mother, don’t you?
She does more for you that you can repay, doesn’t she? Now, all
other right-minded boys and men feel the same way about their
mothers. And so they all agreed, a long time ago, that they would pay
this mark of respect to women.”
This explanation would serve very well for the school, but it would
be wise to have a private talk with Karl and explain to him more fully
the considerations that underlie all chivalrous customs. Put upon a
basis of rationalized justice, the custom of hat-raising will win hearty
support from Karl, but as a mere matter of unexplained tradition it
makes no appeal whatever to him.
COMMENTS
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
COMMENTS
Only the outward form of loyalty can be brought about by force.
Mr. Hoover forgot that only an intelligent understanding and
appreciation can be the basis of true loyalty, and these require time
in which to develop. He should be more concerned, then, in the
conditions favorable to a steady growth of these attitudes than about
mere compliance to outward, conventional form. Saluting the flag
and honoring the flag may be two quite different acts.
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
COMMENTS
Girls and boys in the adolescent period are possessed of so many
conflicting ideals that they may be turned in any one of half a dozen
directions at a psychological moment. Just at the time when
Constance was feeling very grown up, and was looking forward to a
very vivid experience of some kind, Miss Osgood thoughtlessly
dropped the suggestion which colored all of Constance’s thoughts
and acts during her vacation. Instead of trying to gain Miss Osgood’s
approbation she should have spent her month in growing strong and
brown in the open air, in helping to make the life at the hotel simple
and wholesome and health-building; but Miss Osgood’s influence all
went the other way.
It is important that even chance acquaintances watch their casual
injunctions to young people, not only because they may have so
much more influence than they dream, but also because they may
speak at a time when the mind of the hearer is peculiarly sensitive to
suggestion.
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
Let the appeal for church attendance, like many others, be based
on interest. All young people like company, action, color and music;
therefore, most little children like Sunday School, but when they
reach an age at which the church does not offer them these
inducements, they are likely to stop unless kept in by family
influence. Make your appeal according to the age of your pupils and
their tastes.
COMMENTS
Mr. Grey talked to his pupils of things they knew little or nothing
about. This world is very real to the young; the next world is very
shadowy and hypothetical. The only persons whom Mr. Grey’s appeal
would reach would be those pupils who had been brought up with
religious training—i. e., the children who would not need it. In
separating education and religion, time and eternity, mind and soul,
he used outworn and abandoned conceptions of things, foreign alike
to modern thoughts and to pupils’ knowledge. In assuming that they
would not like it at first, he frightened them away from the duty
urged upon them.
Mr. Tate, teaching also in one of the small towns in which church-
going was out of fashion, said to his boys and girls:
“Mr. Corithers told me that he was going Correlate Church
to preach about Phœnician ships next and School
Sunday. I wondered how he could make a sermon out of that subject,
but he wouldn’t tell me. As we’ve just been studying about this
matter, I suggest that we all hear this sermon Sunday, and then we’ll
discuss it Monday.”
He and Mr. Corithers had talked over ways and means, and had
together planned a series of sermons that should correlate with some
of the school work being done. They planned to have simple and
dignified music, and talk little about eternity until the young people
had been led far enough in the spiritual life to know they had souls.
The services, concrete and beautiful, and the sermons, which were
planned to reach their hearers, were attended and enjoyed by Mr.
Tate’s pupils.
Mr. Tate did not urge his pupils to go to church without a
conviction that they should do so, and a knowledge that they would
hear something they could understand. He and the minister planned
earnestly and well to get results, and won.
“Well, what do you think of the girls by this time?” The kindly old
president looked hard at Miss Swallow, who had just finished her
second month as a teacher in a girls’ private school.
“I think they are lovely girls, and I like to work with them,” she
replied. “With one exception, they could hardly be better.”
“With one exception? And what is that?”
Time for Bible
“The matter of piety. This is a church school, and yet I feel a real
lack of a spirit of devotion among the girls. When I visit their rooms,
I see all sorts of books in evidence except the Bible. When I attend
the Y. W. C. A. meetings, it seems to me that most of the girls give
evidence of a very superficial sort of religious experience.”
“What you say is true. I have often thought of it myself. But what
can we do? I urge the girls not to neglect their spiritual interests, in
chapel. And every Lent we have special meetings.”
“I’ll study the situation a little and tell you what I think about it,
Dr. Dayton.”
“Do, please. I am anxious to better things if I can.”
In a few days Miss Swallow was back in the president’s office.
“I think I’ve found the reason for the trouble,” she said, “and the
remedy is simple. We expect our girls to grow strong here, and so
provide them a gymnasium and a tennis court, and give them time
for exercise. We expect them to eat, and provide a meal time; we
expect them to sleep, and make them put out their lights and go to
bed. But we expect them to cultivate the spiritual life without
providing any special time for it. There is not even a five-minute
period for devotions and quiet during the day.”
“But girls say their prayers and read their Bibles at night, don’t
they?”
“Yes, if they do it at all. They do it when they are tired with the
long day’s work and play, and their attention is not particularly
drawn to it by any stipulated time set aside for devotions. I think we
should emphasize our idea of the importance of devotions by giving
it time during the day.” She outlined a plan, and they agreed to try it
in the winter term.
They provided a fifteen-minute “quiet time” just before breakfast,
which every girl was expected to use in meditation and prayer. After
a time they changed it to fifteen minutes after breakfast, before
classes began; this worked much better. Girls who had never given
any time to devotions now found a time provided, and a lack of
distractions which suggested a compliance with the expectation.
Girls who had always wanted to, but could never find time, now
began systematically to study the New Testament or the “Imitation.”
There was no compulsion about it, but the suggestion of the definite
provision for the cultivation of the inner life bore abundant fruit in
lives made gracious by its growth.
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
COMMENTS
COMMENTS
Miss Corliss is to be commended for her attempt to interest
Susan’s classmates in her behalf. It is unfortunate, however, that she
dropped the matter upon learning that Susan herself preferred to be
left out of their sport. There is no incompatibility between innocent
fun and a devoted religious life. To sacrifice entirely the one is to
make the other onesided in its development. Sunshine as well as
shadow is necessary for healthy growth in any of the higher types of
life.
Susan’s habit of isolating herself from her associates might easily
become so fixed as greatly to injure her future prospects in life.
Coöperation, rather than isolation, is to be the watchword of the
future and ability to coöperate with one’s fellows can be learned only
through actual experience—an experience that Susan was failing to
get.
Finally, Susan’s own physical health required a more vigorous and
varied type of life. It is highly significant that the account, as it comes
to us, describes Susan as anemic. This pathological condition of the
body was undoubtedly, in part at least, both cause and effect of
Susan’s mental attitude—one by no means to be encouraged to the
exclusion of all recreative activities. If not strong enough to indulge
in the more vigorous sports of her classmates, Susan should at least
be led to feel it incumbent upon herself to share in such activities as
did not tax her strength too severely.
DIVISION IX
The issues that gather around sex interests of children and young
people are numerous, vexatious and unceasingly important.
A sane teacher does not disclose a morbid concern in sex affairs,
neither does he avoid dealing with insistent problems. In fact, he
proceeds much as does a sympathetic father with his son or
daughter.
Naturally any effective disciplinary measures must be supported
by accurate information as to the nature of sex life and sex actions of
children. The administrator must know a great deal more than he
tells; he is never to be surprised by disclosures of sexual misconduct.
1. Objectionable Games—Unconscious Sex Attraction
CONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT
Mr. Walsh should have led the pupils to enjoy another game and
should have said nothing about the one he disliked. Having decided
upon what to substitute for this one he should say: “I know of a game
I believe you will all enjoy. I will show you how it is played.” To
insure enthusiasm in the new play he should speak to two or three of
the leaders among the pupils, a day or two before the game is
introduced, saying, “I know of a fine game that I think we ought to
play here; as soon as I find time I will teach it to you. You are quick
to see into a new proposition, so I want you to help me get it started
as soon as you understand how it is played.”
COMMENTS
Kissing Games
The small high school at Lexington had fallen into the deplorable
habit of playing kissing games during intermissions. Mr. Poe, the
principal, decided to turn the attention of the students into a less
dangerous and disgusting channel. He decided upon asking the
pupils to help beautify the school grounds and buildings.
He appointed two seniors to choose sides, so that every pupil in
the high school would be on one side or the other. He then assigned
the north half of the buildings and grounds to one side. On fine days
they raked, mowed, planted flowers and vines, placed shrubs, etc., on
stormy days they planned interior decorations. At the close of the
school year a committee from the town not only decided which side
had done best work, but declared that the pupils had gained much
practical knowledge and that the schoolhouse and grounds had never
looked so well before.
2. Sex Consciousness
It is toward the end of the second year that boys often begin to
show tendencies toward evil habits. This tendency does not appear
because the boys of themselves grow bad at this time; it is a matter of
imitation. In the country school the younger pupils come in contact
with older boys who lead them into evil, and the same is true in
villages and cities. It might be that could the growing boy never come
into association with evil it would not become the teacher’s necessity
to use the fundamental principles in such a way as to hold the boy’s
confidence. It cannot be denied that if he has the confidence of the
boys he can control them. No problem, however, requires greater
wisdom in the handling.